Learning and memory – Term Paper

The goals of the course are to provide students with foundational knowledge in behave viral neuroscience which includes contemporary theoretical issues and research methods, to encourage studs nuts to think now, and into the future, about the role of the nervous system in all psychological processes, to beg in to develop the ability to read and interpret original research articles in behavioral neuroscience and to practice CE writing skills. Lectures: Regular attendance at lectures is required. Textbook reading assignments are meant o provide additional breadth and background for the material discussed in lecture.

It is assumed that the assigned readings will be completed before class. Exams: Your comprehension of the lecture and reading materials will be assessed by 3 exam s and a final exam. Exams will be in multiple choice format. Together they will comprise 75% of the final grade. The final exam will be given on FRIDAY 12/11/2009 from 8:00 – 11:00 AM. This is the only time the final exam will be given. Exemptions from taking the exam at the scheduled time will only be gar need under college and university exceptions (e. G. , no more than three exams in one day), or to students who have serious illness or family emergencies.

Therefore, please plan accordingly. Article Summaries: One goal of the course is to build foundational knowledge in behavioral neuroscience , including contemporary theoretical issues and research methods. While we will discuss the results of many r search studies, we will also read and discuss original research articles in order to give you a fuller appreciation f or the theoretical issues and search methods. You will be required to read each article and to write a brief (no more than one page) narrative summarizing the article.

The articles will be available via Blackboard and w ill be announced in class and on Blackboard. Grades on summary papers comprise 10% of your final grade. Neuroscience in the Media Paper: Another goal of the course is to encourage students to think now, and into the future, about the role of nervous system in all psychological processes. To encourage such broader thinking, each SST dent will be required to iscuss an example of “physiology in the media” (movies, television, music, magazine nest, newsprint, etc).

This term paper will discuss and critique an example of physiology in the media with r preference to original scholarly research articles on the topic. The Media Watch paper will comprise 15% of the final grade and is due on December 4th 2009. To facilitate the Neuroscience in the Media paper project, a b rife description of the media example that will be the basis for your paper is due on October 7th and a bill graphs of original research articles for the topic is due on November 6th.