Course Syllabus

41 downloads 135 Views 116KB Size Report
Neuroscience by Purves et al. (2008, Sinauer Associates); Cognitive Neuroscience: The. Biology of the Mind by Gazzaniga et al. (3rd Edition, 2009, Norton).
PSYC 031

Cognitive Neuroscience

Fall 2012

Course Syllabus PSYC 031 - Cognitive Neuroscience - Fall 2012 Instructor: Prof. Ryan Mruczek Office: Papazian 323 Office Hours: TBD or by appointment Office Phone: x8674

E-Mail: [email protected] Web Site: moodle Class Hours: Tue/Thur 2:40 – 3:55 pm Class Room: Sci 104

Required Textbook: The Student’s Guide to Cognitive Neuroscience by Jamie Ward (2nd Edition, 2009, Psychology Press) Supplementary (optional, on reserve at McCabe) Textbooks: Principles of Cognitive Neuroscience by Purves et al. (2008, Sinauer Associates); Cognitive Neuroscience: The Biology of the Mind by Gazzaniga et al. (3rd Edition, 2009, Norton) Description Cognitive neuroscience is the marriage of cognitive psychology and neuroscience. Using a multidisciplinary approach along with diverse and converging methods, it aims characterize the neural mechanisms that the brain uses to support complex cognitive processes. Through a combination of lectures, readings, and discussions students will be introduced to a broad range of topics studied by cognitive neuroscientists. For a list of covered topics, see the Tentative Topic Schedule below. It is my hope that this course will foster an enthusiasm for studying cognitive neuroscience and the human brain. Aims: Students who complete this course will: 1. Understand the methods used to study human cognition and its neural substrates. 2. Understand how neural functions support cognitive processes and how multiple cognitive processes are intertwined. 3. Be able to read, interpret, and critique experimental evidence pertaining to current theories and hypotheses in cognitive neuroscience. 4. Be able to organize information about cognitive neuroscience in a clear and concise manner. Objectives: To achieve theseaims, students will: 1. Attend semiweekly lectures and read supporting material from the textbook and other sources. 2. Discuss and critique primary journal articles in small groups and as a class. 3. Write and revise short summaries of primary journal articles selected by the instructor or student. 4. Integrate information from lectures, readings, group discussions and additional sources. 5. Write a paper providing a concise overview of a current topic in cognitive neuroscience.

1

PSYC 031

Cognitive Neuroscience

Fall 2012

Assignments The following is a brief, and potentially incomplete, list of assignments and expectations: • Textbook Readings: The textbook for this course is The Student’s Guide to Cognitive Neuroscience by Jamie Ward (2nd Edition, 2009, Psychology Press). Chapter readings will be assigned weekly. The textbook will cover the majority of the material presented in the course. Students are expected to read the required textbook chapters before each lecture so that they are better prepared to discuss and ask questions about the material. Supplemental textbooks are provided on reserve, but no required readings will be assigned from these texts. • Lectures: Semiweekly lectures will cover material in the textbook as well as supplemental material. The lectures are designed to guide students to the most important information in the text and to help students make connections with material covered in past lectures. Attendance is mandatory. • Journal Articles: Students will be assigned primary journal articles related to the current course topics to read and discuss in small groups and then as a class. Because we will be discussing these articles in class, it is critical that you read then before each class. At times, students will be assigned as “group discussion leaders” for a paper. They are responsible for leading the discussion of that paper within their group and to convey the group’s thoughts and opinions during class-wide discussions. Additionally, for some journal articles, students will be asked to write brief summaries of the articles before in-class discussion. Students will then revise those summaries based on in-class discussion. Both pre- and post-discussion summaries will be handed in. • Written work: Two short term papers will be selected from a list of topics provided mid-semester. The term papers will be due sometime in the second half of the semester. The assignment details and exact due dates will be provided later. • Exams: There will be an in-class midterm exam (covering all of the material up until Fall Break) and a final exam during exam period. The final will be cumulative, with a heavy emphasis on the second half of the course. Exams will cover all of the lecture material, textbook readings (especially what was emphasized in lecture), and assigned journal articles (at the level of the in-class discussions). Grading Participation (e.g., group discussions) Journal Article Summaries Midterm Exam Papers Final Exam

10% 10% 20% 30% 30%

Academic Honesty Cheating and plagiarizing are not acceptable. Students are encouraged to discuss assignments with their peers. However, all written work must be completed independently. If you are unsure about this policy, please ask me beforehand.

2

PSYC 031

Cognitive Neuroscience

Fall 2012

Tentative Topic Schedule (see moodle for a more up-to-date schedule with readings and assignments) Week

Date

1

09.04.12

Intro, Organization, History, Motivation

1

09.06.12

Neuroscience Review

2

09.11.12

Methodology I – Electrophysiology

3

09.13.12

Methodology II – Neuroimaging

4

09.18.12

Methodology III – Neuropsychology

5

09.20.12

Methodology in Practice

09.25.12

Perception I – Vision: Eye to Brain

6

09.27.12

Perception II – Objects and Faces

6

10.02.12

Attention I – Behavioral and Neural Effects

7

10.04.12

Attention II – Sources and Neglect

7

10.09.12

Action I – Movement and Control

8

10.11.12

Action II – Tools and Apraxia

8

2 3 4 5 6

Topic

7 8 9 10 11 12

Ward Ch

FALL BREAK 10.23.12

Memory I – Overview and Working Memory

9

10.25.12

MIDTERM EXAM

10.30.12

Memory II – Long-Term Memory

9

11.01.12

Hearing – Audition, Music, Speech Perception

10

11.06.12

Aphasia and Semantic Representations

11

11.08.12

Reading – Visual Word Form Area

12

11.13.12

Numbers I – Numerical Representations

13

11.15.12

Numbers II – Numerical Processing

13

11.20.12

TBD THANKSGIVING BREAK

13

11.27.12

Executive Functions I – Prefrontal Cortex

14

11.29.12

Executive Functions II – Anterior Cingulate

14

12.04.12

Emotions

15

12.06.12

Social Neuroscience

15

15

12.11.12

Cognitive Neuroscience in Popular Press / Review

Exam

TBD

14

FINAL EXAM

Period

3

PSYC 031

Cognitive Neuroscience

Fall 2012

Accommodations Statement If you believe that you need accommodations for a disability, please contact Leslie Hempling in the Office of Student Disability Services (Parrish 130) or e-mail [email protected] to set up an appointment to discuss your needs. Leslie Hempling is responsible for reviewing and approving disability-related accommodation requests. As appropriate, she will issue students with documented disabilities an Accommodation Authorization Letter. Since accommodations require early planning and are not retroactive, please contact her as soon as possible. For details about the Student Disabilities Service and the accommodations process, visit http://www.swarthmore.edu/student-life/academic-advising-and-support/studentdisability-services.xml. You are also welcome to contact me privately to discuss your academic needs. However, all disability-related accommodations must be arranged through Leslie Hempling in the Office Of Student Disability Services.

4