NEUR 4810

Cognitive and Behavioral Neuroscience

Spring 2012  CRN 33445

TR 9:00  – 10:15 AM

Psychology Dept. Conference Room (SS Rm. 343)

Professor’s Name: Dr. Matthew Schmolesky

Professor’s e-mail: MSCHMOLESKY@WEBER.EDU

**(This is BY FAR the best way to contact me)

Professor’s Office Phone: 801-626-8745

Office Hours:  TR: 1:15-2:15; MWF 12:20-1:20; also by appointment

Office Location: SS 356

Class Web Site:  http://www.online.weber.edu/

Prerequite:  PSY 2730 (Biopsychology) or NEUR 2050 (Intro to Neuroscience)

Note:  As a seminar course our classtime is devoted to informed and educated discussion.  A heavy emphasis is placed on reading and thinking about the material prior to each class session.

I. Textbook:  Purves et al. Principles of Cognitive Neuroscience., Sunderland, MA: Sinauer, 2008.  Supplemental materials.

II.  Web CT – the Course Website

You are required to become familiar with and use the course website via WebCT:   https://www.online.weber.edu/    I will post documents on this site (e.g. copy of syllabus, powerpoint files, assignments, etc.) and will occasionally email students with announcements.  For technical issues (e.g. having difficulties accessing WebCT or downloading a document) contact computer support by: a) calling 626-7777, or b) emailing csupport@weber.edu, or, c) go to Lampros Hall and ask for assistance.  I do not have answers to questions on WebCT technical issues.   

III.  Course Objectives

1. To apply knowledge of nervous system structure and function (gained through one of the prereq courses; PSY 2730 or NEUR 2050) to higher order cognitive functions including attention, memory, emotions, language and symbolic functions, reasoning, decision making, problem solving, and consciousness. 
2. Gain a deeper appreciation for how our mental states, abilities, and processes that make us who we derive from the interaction of our biological selves with the external world. 
3. To compare human cognition with animal and computer cognition in an effort to forward and reverse engineer the brain function.
4. To integrate theories and research with real-life applications so as to make the study of Cognitive Neuroscience both interesting and meaningful to the students.
5. To encourage students to prepare themselves for the real-life application of their degree if they focus upon neuroscience by educating them about different career paths (e.g. clinical, research,           industry, etc.).
6. To appreciate the depth of knowledge currently available concerning the biological basis of behavior and the societal advantages provided by such knowledge in terms of understanding, prediction, and intervention (e.g. through medical and psychological treatment of diseases and disorders).

IV.  Course Grade

There will be four forms of assessment:  a take home exam, weekly activities, student presentations, and a final writing assignment.

            A.  Examination (15% of final grade):  A take home essay exam will be assigned and will require an analysis and integration          of material from the first five weeks of class.  It will be distributed at the end of the fifth week and is due at the end of the          seventh week.

            B.  Weekly Activities (40% of final grade): 

                        1.  Preview Summaries (30% of final grade) Ten weekly preview (not “review”) summaries will be graded of the 12                                 available.  These previews will be due at the beginning of the first class for each of the applicable weeks (see Course                               Outline below).  They will be 2-3 page summaries of the assigned readings for the upcoming week, and should include                                 a brief section of bulleted “key points” and bulleted “questions raised.”  Each preview will count for 2% of the final                                 course grade.  These assignments will be graded on the basis of full credit (3 points), half credit (1.5 points) or zero                                credit.  Students can skip 2 of the 12 preview assignments without penalty. 

                        2.  Weekly Discussions (10% of final grade).   As a seminar course, student preparation and participation is a critical                                  aspect of this course.  Student attendance, participation, and engagement will be monitored and graded.  While each                                student is expected to be engaged in every session attended, students will each select two sessions in which they will be                        the designated “inquisitor.”  The inquisitor should make particular efforts to prepare a list of ~10 good questions before             their selected session.  Their role is not to be antagonistic, but to use their thoughtful questions to promote the                                           discussion at appropriate times.

            C.  Student Presentations (25% of final grade)

                        Presentations:  Textbook and Review Articles (25% of final grade).  At the beginning of the 2^nd week of class each                            student will select one of the available “Class Topics” to present on.  For this presentation the student must a) select a                                related Review or Opinion article from the Trends in Cognitive Sciences (TCS) journal (in consultation with the                            Instructor; selection of these articles must be complete by the end of the fourth week of class), b) prepare a 1-2 page                          “Discussion Topics” handout for the class to focus the discussion, c) prepare a much more detailed “Discussion Topics                                    Notes” document for personal use (one copy due to me on the presentation date), and d) lead the discussion on the                          assigned textbook readings and the chosen TCS article.  Powerpoint presentations are not permitted for this assignment.

            D.  Final Writing Assignment (20% of final grade)

            Students will write a 1700-2000 word (~5 page) paper to integrate the facts and concepts from their Class Topic textbook            readings, their chosen review, and their three chosen primary research articles.  This paper is due at the beginning of Finals            Week and is intended to give the student the opportunity to further demonstrate their knowledge as a subject matter expert. 

E.  Grading Scale

      The course grade will be assigned according to the scale indicated below:

V.  Course Outline:

                                                NOTE:  Course Topic Review Articles are due one week prior to your scheduled day as discussion leader                       

NO CLASSES: January 16, February 20, March 12-16

NCUR is being held March 29-31

VI.  Additional Information

            A.  Attendance

Attendance is required for this class and will be monitored.  Students will not be penalized for missing 3-4 of the 28 class sessions.  **IF you miss class, there are two things you can do to get the material you missed.  You may look on WebCT for the relevant articles, and/or you may get notes from a classmate.  DO NOT email me or come to my office to ask what you missed.  It is your responsibility to attend class or, if you cannot, contact a classmate to catch up.  Please DO email me or come to my office for any other purpose if you think I can be of help.

            B.  Class Contact

Often it is necessary to miss a part or all of class.  When that happens, or when you have questions that you cannot answer on your own, it is helpful to have the name and number of another student in class that you can contact.  Please use the space below to write down the name, email, and phone number of at least two students in this class.  AND you can use WebCT to email anyone in the class.  Also, be aware that you can email any of your classmates via WebCT.

CONTACT INFORMATION FOR CLASSMATES:

___________________________________   _____________________________

Name                                                               Phone or Email

___________________________________   _____________________________

Name                                                               Phone or Email

            C.  Class Courtesy

Please be courteous of others when coming late to or leaving early from class.  Do not make a habit of arriving late or leaving early as many (including me) find it very distracting. The following behaviors are rude when they take place during class time: a) holding private conversations, b) sleeping, c) reading other material, or d) doing other work. Drinking (but not eating) in class may be permitted, so long as it is not disruptive to the learning environment.  **POLICY FOR ELECTRONIC DEVICES: ALL ELECTRONIC DEVICES ARE TO BE OFF AND OUT OF SIGHT/REACH DURING CLASS AND TESTS.  Any disruptive behavior will be addressed immediately, and if the behavior does not cease, you will be asked to leave class.  Students repeatedly engaging in rude behavior will be counseled to drop the course.    

            D.  Grade Appeals

If, after receiving an exam/assignment back during class, you think a mistake has been made in the grading of your work, please do not ask about this during class.  Write/type on a sheet of paper what your questions are, provide reference to notes in class or specific pages from the book, and turn in these questions to the instructor at the end of the class period.  You will receive a response, and any grade adjustment necessary, within one week.  THIS IS THE ONLY WAY that your concerns will be addressed.  ONLY written questions and comments THAT YOU SUPPORT will be evaluated.

E.  Academic Dishonesty/Plagarism/Cheating

I encourage students to work and study together whenever possible. However, students must hand in their own work.  Whenever you try to pass off someone’s work that is not your own, that is cheating.  If you cheat on ANY assignment, you will receive a grade of E (Failing) for the course.  Plagiarism is when you represent someone else’s ideas or words as your own.  For a very detailed description of plagiarism, please go to the web site and review the PLAGIARISM description.  You are responsible for knowing what constitutes plagiarism.  ANY plagiarism (even unintentional) will result in a failing grade in the course.  Please refer to the following web site for a complete listing of infringements that constitute cheating:  http://documents.weber.edu/ppm/6-22.htm. 

F.  Completing all Work

All assignments must be completed in order for students to pass the course.  Students will receive a grade of I (incomplete) if any work is missing when the final grades are computed.  The grade of I will turn into a UW if the work is not completed in a timely fashion. 

G.  Students with Disabilities

Any student requiring accommodations or services due to a disability must contact Services for Students with Disabilities (SSD) in room 181 of the Student Service Center.  SSD can also arrange to provide course materials (including this syllabus) in alternative formats if necessary.

      H.  Students’ Rights and Responsibilities

Please refer to the following web site for a complete listing of all WSU student rights and responsibilities:  http://documents.weber.edu/ppm/6-22.htm

VII.  Grade Record

Please keep a record of the grades you receive on each assignment.  You may also access your grades using the MY GRADES tool on WebCT.  Grades are updated within ~1 week of the end of assignment

NOTE:  The course syllabus provides a general plan for the course.  I am committed to following the syllabus but there is no guarantee that I will. Altering the syllabus may also mean changing the nature or timing of assignments.  By continuing in the course after reading the syllabus, you are indicating that you accept the terms of the syllabus.  March 20 is the last day to drop with a W.