PSY 621: Advanced Physiological Psychology
Spring 2008
 
Meeting Time/Location: Tuesday, 6:00– 8:40 p.m., Room 606, Ginger Hall  
Instructor:                    Ilsun M. White
         Office:                  Ginger Hall, Room 601-K
                                     E-mail: i.white@moreheadstate.edu; Phone: 783-2991
Office Hours:                TTH 3:00-5:00pm, 8:40-9:10pm, or by appointment 
Required Text:              Bryan Kolb and Ian Whishaw. Fundamentals of Neuropsychology
                                       Worth Publishers, 2003, 5th Edition.
 
Course Description: This course will focus on the neural mechanisms underlying behavioral processes and the neuropsychopharmacology of normal and abnormal behaviors. The course is divided into four sections: The fundamental organization of the nervous system, cortical organization, higher functional units of the nervous system, and disorders. The first section will cover material in neuroanatomy, neurophysiology, neuropharmacology, and synaptic transmission. The second section will focus on functional organization of the sensory-motor system, the cortex, and higher brain functions. The third section will focus on specific disorders (neurological and clinical) and treatment. Course material will be based on lectures and assigned readings from the text and outside sources. Outside readings (supplemental readings) will be reserved in the Psychology office. Prerequisite: PSY421 (Physiological Psychology) or PSY465 (Psychopharmacology).  
Grading: Term Grades will be based on the results of three exams and assignments.  
                        100 points (40%)                  Exam 1 (Midterm)                                                       
                        50 points (20%)                   Quizzes, Assignments, and Discussions             
                        100 points (40%)                  Exam 2 (Final) 
                        250 points                            Total 
        Scale for Term Grades:       A   90%-100%        C         70% - 79%      
                                                    B   80% - 89%        D         60% - 69%
 
Exams and Quizzes will be based on reading assignments and lecture material. The exams will be a mixture of multiple-choices, short answers (fill-in-the-blanks), and essay questions. Please, note that there will be a review session (optional), the week before the exam. Additional review session can be provided if needed. Missed exams or quizzes receive ‘zero’. The final exam will not be cumulative. Quizzes will be given in class every 2-3 weeks, depending on the course schedule. There will be a single make-up exam given at the end of the semester. There will be no make-up for the quizzes. In the event of an illness or if you have an unavoidable reason for missing an exam, the make-up exam will be administered only if a written excuse is provided within 2 days of the ‘missed’ exam.
 
Assignments and In-class Performance will include completion of assignments and active participation in discussions of additional reading materials that complement the lecture. More specifically, you will be required to read recent articles published in peer-reviewed journals, will be randomly selected to present and discuss your scientific views on the topic/article, and will be required to submit a written summary (< 1 page; single space) of the articles. Grading will be based on a written summary, your ability to present the article, to discuss general issues, to handle questions and answers posed in class throughout the semester. The content of reading assignments and critical issues/topics during discussions will be included in the exam. Outside readings will be reserved in the Psychology office.
 
Blackboard. The MSU online system (http://online.morehead-st.edu/) provides access to course information regarding the syllabus, grades, and announcements. To access Blackboard you need user name and password.   Username:   m + your MSU student ID    Password: your MSU e-mail password  
 
Attendance in class is required. 
 
Academic Dishonesty. University guidelines will be enforced for any forms of academic dishonesty.
 
TENTATIVE COURSE SCHEDULE
 
Jan 15–Mar 25  UNITS I&II: THE NERVOUS SYSTEM AND CORTEX          
                    Neurons, Neurophysiology, and Synaptic Transmission (review)     Chap. 3-6
                    Organization of the Sensory and Motor Systems                               Chap. 8,9
                    Anatomical Organization of the Cortex (selected topics)                    Chap. 10
                    Specific Functions and Interactions of Each Lobes                             Chap.13-16
                         (note: exam questions for Ch13-16 will be pre-distributed)
 
                                        ** SPRING BREAK: March 17-21
 
                    Review (optional)        Thursday, March 13, 4:00-5:00 pm                              
                    EXAM   I  (Midterm)   Tuesday, March 25, 6:00 PM
 
 Apr 1–Apr 29 UNIT III: HIGHER BRAIN FUNCTIONS & DISORDERS
                    Memory and Emotion                                                                     Chap. 18,20
                    Spatial Behavior and Attention                                                       Chap. 21,22
                    Neurological and Psychiatric Disorders                                          Chap. 26,27
 
                   Review (optional)      Thursday, May 1, 4:00-5:00 pm
                    EXAM   II   (Final)     Tuesday, May 6, 6:00 PM
 
 
Norte:  The syllabus and the course schedule are subject to change