W1010X:            MIND, BRAIN AND BEHAVIOR (FALL 2003)

When/Where:          501 Schermerhorn Hall; Monday & Wednesday 2:40-3:55 pm

Web Site:                  http://www.columbia.edu/cu/psychology/courses/1010/mangels/index.html

 

 

Rm

Office Hours

Email

Professor:

Jennifer Mangels

 

316

 

Mon 4-6pm & by appt.

 

mangels@psych.columbia.edu

TAs:

 

 

 

Ilia Karatsoreos (grad)

318B

Thurs 10-11 am

ink2001@columbia.edu

Jacqui Rick (grad)

355D

Wed 12-1pm

jacqui@psych.columbia.edu

Coco Cioroiu (undergrad)

200B

Tues 11am-12pm

cmc192@columbia.edu

Judy Vale (undergrad)

200C

Tues 2-3pm

jnv10@columbia.edu

 

READINGS:

Textbook: Gazzaniga, Ivry, & Mangun (2002). Cognitive Neuroscience: Biology of the Mind. (2nd Ed)

 

Additional readings: During the semester, some additional, short readings will be assigned as supplement or extra credit. They will be placed on reserve in the library, as well as downloads on the website. Although the basic information from these articles will be covered in class, reading the original article from which this information is extracted will provide you with a more detailed understanding of the topic. The extra credit questions are designed so that they can only be answered correctly if you have read this article.

 

EXAMS:

Format: multiple choice, fill-in and short essay questions, extra credit short essay questions.

Make-up exams: No one will be excused from an exam without a written medical excuse. Make-up exams are given only at the next exam time. There is only one final exam time; schedule accordingly.

 

 

Date

Topics Covered

% Grade

Exam 1

Sept 29

Unit I (Basic Neuroscience)

20%

Exam 2

Nov 5

Unit II (Cognitive Neuroscience: Sensation/Perception)

35%

Exam 3

Dec 17

Unit III (Cog. Neuro: Higher Level Cognition + Cumulative Units I/II)

45%

 

SELF-TESTS: Optional quizzes made up of questions that integrate the most important material from the lectures and book. Self-tests can:

1)    help you to keep up with and reinforce key points in the reading and lectures

2)    help borderline grade situations. TAs will keep track of whether you have turned a self-test in and how you performed. If you evidence significant effort (~80% correct) on a significant number of these tests we will adjust your grade upward if you grade is borderline.

·      Posting New Self-Tests: Self-tests are posted on-line Thursdays by 12noon

·      Turning in Answers: Self-tests are due by the start of class the following Monday (2:40 pm). You may drop them off on the front table in 510 or email them to Jacqui Rick at (jacqui@psych.columbia.edu). Once I start to lecture, the self-tests will be collected. Any turned in after that point will be considered late. Emailed self-tests with time stamped after 2:30 pm will be considered late. Late self-tests will not be counted.

·      Posting Answers to Self-Test: Answers will be posted on the website by Tuesday 12noon.

TOPIC/LECTURE SCHEDULE

Date

Topic

Readings

September

 

3

Brain & Behavior: Historical Perspective

Chapter 1

8

Gross Neuroanatomy: Fundamentals

Chapter 3 (pgs. 62-66, 70-95)

(ST1) 10

Gross Neuroanatomy: From Cortex to Neurons

Chapter 3 (pgs. 66-70), Chapter 2 (pgs. 23-31)

*15

Neurophysiology: Neurons and the Resting Potential

Chapter 2 (pgs. 31-35)

(ST2) 17

Neurophysiology: From Resting Potential to Action Potential

Chapter 2 (pgs. 35-48)

*22

Neurophysiology: Action Potential and Conduction

Chapter 2 (pgs. 48-56)

(ST3)# 24

Synaptic Transmission and Drug Action

Chapter 2 (pgs. 56-61)

29

EXAM #1 (20% of grade)

 

October

1

Methods: Invasive Methods, Non-invasive Anatomical Imaging

Chapter 4 (pgs. 96-127)

6

Methods: Non-invasive Functional Imaging (Yom Kippur)

Chapter 4 (pgs. 127-147)

(ST4) 8

Auditory Sensation: Cochlea to Primary Auditory Cortex

Chapter 5 (pgs. 185-193)

* 13

Visual Sensation: Retina to Primary Visual Cortex

Chapter 5 (pgs. 148-167)

(ST5) 15

Sensation to Perception: Beyond Primary Sensory Cortex

Chapter 5 (pgs. 167-185)

* 20

Perception (con’t): Apperceptive vs. Associative Agnosias

Chapter 6 (pgs. 193-221)

(ST6) 22

Higher-level vision: Associative Agnosia (continued)

Chapter 6 (pgs. 221-243)

* 27

Prosopagnosia: Are faces special?

 

(ST7)# 29

Attending to objects in space

Chapter 7 (244-255, 289-300)

November

 

3

HOLIDAY- NO CLASS

 

5

EXAM #2 (35% of Grade)

 

10

Working Memory and Executive Control: Frontal Lobes

Chapter 12

(ST8) 12

Long-term Memory: Behavioral Basis

Chapter 8 (pgs. 301-345)

*17

Long-term Memory: Cellular Basis

Chapter 8 (pgs. 345-350)

(ST9) 19

Emotion, Decision Making and Neuroeconomics

Chapter 13

*24

Motor Control and Skill Learning

Chapter 11 pgs. 445-461, 469-498

(ST10) 26

Laterality and Language

Chap. 9 (pgs. 351-358, 381-399)

Chap. 10 (pgs. 410-414, 438-444)

December

 

*1

Evolutionary Perspectives (Phylogeny),

Life-Span Development (Ontogeny)

Chapter 14 (577-590; 596-610)

Chapter 15 (628-640)

(ST11) 3

Plasticity and Recovery of Function,

Neuroethics of Enhancement

Chapter 15 (pgs. 640-653)

*8

Consciousness (Last Day of Classes)

Chapter 16

17

FINAL EXAM (45% of Grade)

501 Sch, 1:10-4pm

* Date that Self-Test (ST) from preceding week is DUE in class by 2:40 pm (in person; 2:30 by email)

# ST3 & 7 will be due by 5pm the Friday of that week, in 406 Sch, answers will be posted the next day.

 


FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)

 

Q. Does this course satisfy the Core Curriculum Science Requirement?

A. Yes. It can be used to satisfy the one-term or, together with 1001 (Science of Psychology) or any 2000-level class, the two-term (in one department) requirement. If you have questions see: http://www.columbia.edu/cu/psychology/dept/ugrad/exceptions/scireq.html

 

Q. Is it appropriate for non-science majors?

A. Yes, as it satisfies a core requirement. For non-science majors, it will hopefully remove some of the mystery and apprehension associated with science, and provide you with the vocabulary to understand the debates about brain sciences, both scientific and political, that already enter the news and will continue to do so with increasing frequency in the future. However, it is a science course and deals with biology, as well as some physics, chemistry and math, but not beyond the basics high-school level. In all but the simplest of cases, I will always review the necessary physics and chemistry.

 

Q. Is this course appropriate for majors in biology, psychology, neuroscience & behavior, or pre-meds?

A. For students who expect to major in these fields or are just starting in their major, this course provides a preparation for many of the advanced courses. If you have already taken courses in one or more of the following areas (neuroscience, neuropsychology, physiological psychology and biological psychology), and are not taking this course to fulfill a necessary requirement, please see me.

 

Q. If I miss an exam, do I have to take the make-up exam at the same time as the next exam?

A. Yes. There are no exceptions to this rule. Unfortunately, we have to do this to keep everyone honest.

 

Q. Can I write a paper or do a project for extra credit?

A. No, but there are extra credit questions on the exams.

 

Q. Will you put your notes in the library?

A. Copies of overheads and tapes of some lectures will be available on reserve. If you miss a class, it is your responsibility to get the notes from someone in the class and/or listen to the tape.

 

Q. Will you give us a copy of a past exam?

A. Although we will not pass out past exams, we will supply term sheets and sample questions the week before each exam. The self-tests also give you a good idea of the general level of the questions we will ask.

 

Q. Will you grade on a curve?

A. I will adjust grades upward if necessary. I will never lower grades to fit a curve.