Psychology 2

PHYSIOLOGICAL PSYCHOLOGY

R. L. Russell

Fall 2009

 

 

 

Course Description:

Physiological psychology emphasizes the approach, methods, and concepts of the biological sciences as tools to increase our understanding of the human mind and of the processes controlling human behavior.  This course will explore the roles of biological factors in such areas of psychology as perception, motivation, learning, thinking, language, and psychopathology.  Information about the anatomy and physiology of the human nervous system is presented insofar as it casts light upon these topics.

Prerequisite:  Psychology 1; English skills equivalent to eligibility for English 1 are strongly recommended.

Instructor:  Richard L. Russell, Ph.D.

E-mail:  Russell_Richard@smc.edu

Office:  HSS 376

Course Web Pages:

Office Hours:  11-12 Tu, Th or by appt.

http://homepage.smc.edu/russell_richard

Text and Readings:

Neil R Carlson: Foundations of Physiological Psychology, 7th  Edition, 2008. The accompanying Study Guide is recommended, but not required. The text’s web pages at http://mypsychkit.com has useful animations, study aids and information.

Richard L. Russell:  Lecture Notes to Accompany  Richard L. Russell's Psychology Two, Fall 2009

Class Periods: 9:30-10:50 TTh in MC 9; 12:45-2:05 TTh in MC 9

Class periods will be used for answering students' questions, for clarifying or expanding upon assigned reading material, and for presenting additional information.  Material presented in class will appear on the exams.  An efficient use of class time requires that students study the assigned reading material before coming to class.

Evaluation:  Your grade will be determined as follows:

1.  Approximately 30% of your grade will be determined by your performance on the cumulative final exam.  This exam will consist of approximately75 objective questions, and optional written questions.  The exam will be given during the Final Exam period.  Approximately half of the questions on this exam will come from the lectures, and approximately half from the textbook.   You must take the final exam.

2.  Approximately 30% of your grade will be determined by your performance on the Midterm Exam.  This exam will consist of objective and optional essay questions. Approximately half of the questions on these exams will come from the lectures, and approximately half from the textbook.  If you miss this exam, your grade on it will be estimated from your score on the final exam.

3.  Approximately 40% of your grade will be determined by your performance on weekly quizzes.  A ten-minute multiple choice quiz will normally be given during the last class meeting each week. Your lowest quiz score will be pro-rated from your Final Exam score.  Missed quizzes may not be made up.  Approximately half of the questions on these quizzes will come from the lectures, and approximately half from the textbook.

All quizzes and exams require the ParSCORE Scantron form, # 288 (2/3 sheet, tomato red).

Familiarize yourself with SMC's Code of Academic Conduct.

 

 

Psychology 2

APPROXIMATE CLASS SCHEDULE

R. L. Russell

Fall 2009

 

 

 

 

Week

Tuesday

Thursday

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sept. 1

 

Introduction

 

Psychology: Mind and Brain

Chapter 1 pp. 1-12,19-26

 

 

 

Sept. 8

Evolution: Basics

Lecture Outlines pp. 4.1-4.5

Evolution: Heredity & Natural Selection

Chapter 1 pp. 13-19; p. 72

Lecture Outlines pp. 4.5-4.8

 

 

 

Sept. 15

Evolution: Nature-Nurture & Speciation

Lecture Outlines, pp. 4.8-4.18

 

Evolution: Sociobiology

Lecture Outlines, pp. 4.19-4.22

 

 

 

Sept. 22

 

Neurons: Parts and Functions

Chapter 2 pp. 27-38

 

Neurons: The Action Potential

Chapter 2 pp. 38-46

Lecture Outlines pp. 6.1-6.11

 

 

 

Sept. 29

 

Neurons: Action Potential Conduction

Chapter 2 pp. 46-49

Lecture Outlines pp. 6.11-6.16

 

Synapses: Presynaptic & Postsynaptic

Chapter 2 pp. 49-60

 

 

 

Oct. 6

Synapses: Summation/Integration

 

Midterm Exam

 

 

Oct. 13

Neural Circuits

Hebb Reprint on web site

 

Neural Circuits

Carlson Ch. 2 pp. 38-39

 

 

Oct. 20

Review Midterm Exam

Chapter 12 pp. 351-356

Learning: Synaptic Changes

Carlson  Ch 12  pp. 356-364; p. 388

 

 

 

Oct. 27

Nervous System: PNS & Spinal Cord

Chapter 3 pp. 84-93

 

Nervous System: Origins

Chapter 3 pp. 61-72

 

 

 

Nov. 3

Nervous System: Cerebral Cortex

Chapter 3 pp. 72-77

 

Nervous System: Language

Chapter 13 pp. 393-413

 

 

 

Nov. 10

Nerv. Sys.: Subcortical Strs. & Brainstem

Carlson Ch 3 pp.77-84

Psychopathology

Chapter 4

 

 

 

Nov. 17

Psychopathology: Schizophrenia

Chapter 15 pp. 457-471

Psychopathology: Mood Disorders

Chapter 15 pp. 471-484

 

 

 

Nov. 24

Vision: The Eye

Lecture Outlines Section 15

 

No class today

 

 

Dec. 1

 

Vision: Visual Coding

Chapter 6 pp. 153-165

 

Vision: Visual Perception

Chapter 6 pp. 166-185

 

 

Dec. 8

 

Learning/Memory: Memory Processes

Chapter 12

Memory/Thinking: Micro View

 

 

Final Exams:

 

Drop Dates:

9:30 TTh         8-11 am           Thursday, Dec. 17

12:45 TTh       12-3 pm             Tuesday, Dec.  15

Avoid “W” Grade                      Monday, Sept. 21 Last Possible Withdrawal Date          Monday, Nov. 23

 

 

 

 

 

 

STUDENT REGISTRATION & LOGIN

<Insert Textbook name and Author>

 

Dear Students: In this course you will be using MyPsychKit, a book-specific website with learning objectives, online flashcards, video clips, activities, and practice tests that may be used for independent study or assigned by your instructor.

 

Before You Begin

To register for MyPsychKit you will need:

þ        Your school’s zip code: __________________

þ        A MyPsychKit student access code (packaged with your new text or available for purchase at www.MyPsychKit.com)

þ        A valid email address

 

In addition, your instructor may also provide you with:

þ        A “Class ID” to use after you’ve registered for your course : _______________

 

 

Registration

  1. Go to www.MyPsychKit.com
  2. Under “First time users” click Students.
  3. Find the image of the book used in your course and click Register. It is very important that you select the correct book MyPsychKit that goes with your book. Don’t have a new student access code? Click “Buy Access” and follow those instructions to register.
  4. Follow the simple online instructions to activate your access code and set up a personal login name and password. Be sure to write down your login name and password!

 

Once the registration is complete, you will receive a Confirmation Screen with your information (this information will also be emailed to you).

 

Logging in

  1. Go to www.MyPsychKit.com
  2. Under “Returning users” click Students.
  3. Click the Login button next to the book you are using in class. Congratulations! You are now ready to use your resources for MyPsychKit!

 

 

Need Help? Click the Help tab on the MyPsychKit homepage for minimum requirements or to click to technical support!