W1010x: Undergraduate course info

course information last updated on August 26, 2003

Fall semester 2003
Professor Jennifer Mangels

Meets: MW 2:40-3:55, Schermerhorn 501

COURSE INFORMATION

PLEASE CHECK COLUMBIA COURSEWORKS TO ACCESS INFORMATION ABOUT SYLLABUS, HANDOUTS, OVERHEADS AND SELFTESTS.

Contact Information
Syllabus
Self-Tests
Study Materials
Neuroscience in the News
Important Websites (including Neuroscience Tutorial developed by former student, Pascal Saremsky)

Instructor contact information

Dr. Jennifer Mangels
Mon 4-6 pm
Office: 316 Sch

TA contact information

Ilia Karatsoreos
Thur 10-11am
Office: 318B Sch

Jacqui Rick
Wed 12-1pm
Office: 355D Sch

Judy Vale
Tues 2-3pm
Office: 200C Sch

Comana (Coco) Cioroiu
Tues 11am-12 noon
Office: 200B Sch

Important course dates

Last Day to Add Class or Receive Tuition Refund for Class Dropped	Friday, Sept 12
EXAM 1 (20% of grade)	Monday, Sept 29
Last Day to Drop Class for Barnard, GS, SIPA, GSAS, CESP and CC 2004-2006	Tuesday, Oct 7
Academic Holiday - No class	Monday, Nov 3
EXAM 2 (35% of grade)	Wednedsday, Nov 5
Last Day to Exercise Pass/Fail option Last Day to Drop a Class for Schools other than above	Thursday, Nov 13
Last Day of Class	Monday, Dec 8
FINAL EXAM (45% of grade; cumulative)	Wednesday, Dec 17, 1:10-4pm

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Self-tests

Self-tests are posted by 12noon Thursdays
Self-tests are OPTIONAL. Performance on the self-test cannot "hurt" your grade, only help it.

Although they are optional for you to turn in, any material on the self-test is fair game for the exam.

Self-tests are graded on a +/- basis. You must demonstrate understanding of 80% of the material on the self-test to receive a "+"

To receive credit for your self-test, you MUST turn in the answers to the self-test by the following Monday class, BEFORE class officially starts. No self-tests will be accepted after 2:40 pm in class, or 2:30 by email.

Answers will be posted on the website by 12 noon Tuesday (the next day)

Self-tests WILL NOT be returned, so keep a copy of your answers for reference.

Around exam time, we will post the number of self-tests attempted and graded with a "+" for each student

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Neuroscience in the News

Perceptive students will find cognitive neuroscience making headlines in newspapers and magazines on a regular basis. Be one of the first two students to bring a news article to Coco's (the TA) attention (by handing a print version to Coco before class starts) and your efforts will be noted as nudge-points when final grades are being decided.

The article should be NEW news, with a publication date no later than the date of the class previous to when you are turning the article in (e.g., turning in article on 9/10, the date of the article must be no later than 9/8).
Please put your name and the date you are turning it in on the top of the article.

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Study materials (supplemental and extra credit)

Materials for a given week will be placed on reserve everyday after class, but the website will be updated once a week before the end of the day on Wednesday, at the same time as the Self-Test is posted.
Copies of overheads/handouts are available in the Psychology Library, 4th floor Schermerhorn.

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Useful web links

Unit 1 (Basic Neuroscience)

General Sites
Neuroscience Tutorial developed by Pascal Saremsky (topics specifically covered in this course)
Neuroscience for Kids (fun with the brain!)

History
More on the history of the Mind-Brain Debate (from Descartes to William James)
"Modern" Phrenology (yikes!)
See also: "The Mismeasure of Man" by Stephan Jay Gould (1981)
Limits of localization and the importance of neural interconnections (by W. Uttal)

Gross Anatomy
Digital Anatomist (somewhat more advanced, but covers both cortical and subcortical structures)

Neural Signaling
Easy Tutorial on Neural Signaling (Action Potential)

And more...
Columbia University Tutoring and Translation Agency at the Center for Career Services.
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Problems or questions about this website? Email Dr. Mangels

to Psychology Department
to Columbia University home page