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Psyc 355 - Syllabus

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39 views

Psyc 355 - Syllabus

Uploaded by

emmacarrollb
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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PSYC 355

Learning (3 credits)
January 15th – April 15th, 2024
Mon & Wed, 1:15 pm – 2:30 pm
CC 111 LOY (This course will be in person)

Professor Dr. Guillem Esber


Office SP 257.06
E-mail [email protected]
(when emailing please include PSYC 355 in the subject)
Office Hours Mondays 3:00-4:00 pm or by appointment

Territorial Acknowledgement
I would like to begin by acknowledging that Concordia University is located on unceded
Indigenous lands. The Kanien’kehá:ka Nation is recognized as the custodians of the lands and
waters on which we gather today. Tiohtià:ke/Montréal is historically known as a gathering place
for many First Nations. Today, it is home to a diverse population of Indigenous and other
peoples. We respect the continued connections with the past, present and future in our
ongoing relationships with Indigenous and other peoples within the Montreal community.

Prerequisite/Corequisite: The following courses must be completed previously: BIOL 200, BIOL
201, BIOL 202, Cegep Biology 301, Cegep Biology 101-NYA, or Cegep Biology 921.

NOTE: Students who have received credit for BIOL 383 OR PSYC 358 may not take this course
for credit.

Course Description
This course provides an introduction to the neural mechanisms that underlie behaviour. Topics
include the structure and function of neurons, neural communication, an introduction to
neuroanatomy and endocrinology, and the processing of sensory information. Students also
learn how complex systems, such as the sensory and motor systems, interact to produce
behaviour.

Textbook (not required)


NO textbooks are required for the course but Bear et al. could be helpful as complementary
reading as lecture materials are sourced from this book (available on reserve at the Concordia
Library).
Bear, M., Connors, B., & Paradiso, M. A. (2020). Neuroscience: exploring the brain, enhanced
edition: exploring the brain. Jones & Bartlett Learning.Moodle
Announcements and other materials will be disseminated through Moodle.

Grading and Assessment


Mid-term exams (100% of total if it exceeds your final exam grade, otherwise 0%)
There will be 2 midterm exams consisting of ~40 questions (for dates, see schedule below). All
questions will be short-answer questions. Students must take the exam on the scheduled date
unless there is a valid reason for rescheduling the exam. Make-up exams will be oral.

Final exam (100% of total if it exceeds your midterm average, otherwise 0%)
The final exam is cumulative and worth 100% of the final grade if its score exceeds your mid-
term average. If your final exam score falls short of your mid-term average, the final exam
will not count towards your overall grade. In other words, you will be allowed to keep
whichever score is higher.
Grading scheme

Communication with the professor


The most effective method for having your questions answered is via a face-to-face conversation.
Please come to my office hours with questions if there are any aspects of the material that are not
straightforward. Explanations of complex material are difficult to convey over email and will be
similar in content to that provided by the posted readings. If emailing direct questions about the
course, please put ‘PSYC 355’ in the subject and please phrase the questions in a clear and well-
written manner.

Course/Classroom policies

Behaviour. All individuals participating in courses are expected to be professional and


constructive throughout the course, including in their communications. Concordia students are
subject to the Code of Rights and Responsibilities which applies both when students are
physically and virtually engaged in any University activity, including classes, seminars, meetings,
etc. Students engaged in university activities must respect this Code when engaging with any
members of the Concordia community, including faculty, staff, and students, whether such
interactions are verbal or in writing, face to face or online/virtual. Failing to comply with
the Code may result in charges and sanctions, as outlined in the Code.

Intellectual property. Content belonging to instructors shared in online courses, including, but
not limited to, online lectures, course notes, and video recordings of classes remain the
intellectual property of the faculty member. It may not be distributed, published or broadcast,
in whole or in part, without the express permission of the faculty member. Students are also
forbidden to use their own means of recording any elements of an online class or lecture
without express permission of the instructor. Any unauthorized sharing of course content may
constitute a breach of the Academic Code of Conduct and/or the Code of Rights and
Responsibilities. As specified in the Policy on Intellectual Property, the University does not claim
any ownership of or interest in any student IP. All university members retain copyright over
their work.

Use of cell phones. The use of cell phones during class for any reason is highly disruptive and
therefore prohibited.

Policy on religious holidays. Students who wish to observe religious holidays must inform the
instructor in writing within the first two weeks of class.

Policy on cheating and plagiarism. Cheating is a serious academic offense. Cheating involves the
use of unauthorized materials (notes, books, computers, cell---phones, etc.) during
examinations, or the copying of other people’s work during exams. Students caught cheating
will receive a zero for the examination, and may be referred to the appropriate university
authorities for further action. Plagiarism refers to "the presentation of the work of another
person as one's own or without proper acknowledgement" (Article 16a). It is YOUR
responsibility to ensure you behave with academic integrity. Go to the following site and
familiarize yourself with the rules and regulations. There is a short 5min video that specifies
what defines cheating and plagiarism is, and outlines the importance of academic integrity, and
the consequences that ensue. Work that is plagiarized will receive an automatic zero.
Do not copy paraphrase or translate anything from anywhere without saying where you
obtained it.
http://www.concordia.ca/students/academic-integrity.html

Important dates
Important dates pertaining to the academic calendar can be found using the following link:
https://www.concordia.ca/academics/undergraduate/calendar.html

Extraordinary Circumstances
In the event of extraordinary circumstances and pursuant to the Academic Regulations, the
University may modify the delivery, content, structure, forum, location and/or evaluation
scheme. In the event of such extraordinary circumstances, students will be informed of the
changes.

COURSE SCHEDULE

Below are the topics we will cover:


Week Lectures Date
Introduction Jan 15
1
Neurons Jan 17
Glia cells Jan 22
2
Resting potential I Jan 24
Resting potential II Jan 29
3
Action potential I Jan 31
Action potential II Feb 5
4
Synaptic transmission I Feb 7
Synaptic transmission II Feb 12
5
Neurotransmitter systems I Feb 14
Neurotransmitter systems II Feb 19
6
Midterm 1 Feb 21
Neuroanatomy I Mar 4
7
Neuroanatomy II Mar 6
Neuroendocrinology Mar 11
8
Autonomic Nervous System Mar 13
Neuromodulatory systems Mar 18
Chemical senses Mar 20
9
Reflex Mar 25
Auditory and Vestibular Systems Mar 27
Eye and Retina Apr 3
10
Phototransduction & Retinal Output Apr 8
Midterm 2 Apr 10
11
Review Apr 15
Week of
Final exam
Apr 18

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