Physiological Psychology & Behavioral Neuroscience: Syllabus and Introductory Study Guide

Course Overview: Physiological Psychology (Behavioral Neuroscience)

Introduction

This course provides a foundational overview of the biological aspects of psychology, focusing on the structure and function of the nervous system and its role in generating behavior. It serves as necessary background for advanced neuroscience and psychology coursework.

• Course Code: PSB 3004C

• Instructor: Dr. Michelle Bales

• Meeting Times: MW 3:05-4:20

• Contact: [e-mail]

Course Structure

• Lecture: 3 credits (75% of grade)

• Lab: 1 credit (25% of grade)

• Lab Component: Hands-on activities including sheep brain dissections

Assessment & Grading

Activity	Points
Exam 1 (50 questions)	50
Exam 2 (50 questions)	50
Exam 3 (50 questions)	50
Final Exam (60 questions)	60
Neuroscience Quiz (20 questions)	10
Reading Quizzes (22 best scores)	50
In-class Activities (18 best scores)	30
Lab Section	100
Total Possible Points	400

Course Objectives

• Major Brain Divisions: Identify and describe the physiological and behavioral functions of major brain regions, subregions, and nuclei.

• Neurophysiological Events: Explain synaptic potentials, action potentials, and synaptic contacts; understand pharmacological manipulation of neurophysiology. Key Terms: Action potential, synaptic potential, neurotransmission. Example: The action potential is an electrical impulse that travels along the axon, enabling communication between neurons.

• Neural Regulation of Homeostasis: Describe how the nervous system maintains internal balance through feedback mechanisms. Example: The hypothalamus regulates body temperature, hunger, and thirst.

• Sensory Systems: Explain similarities and differences among sensory modalities (vision, hearing, touch, taste, smell). Example: All sensory systems convert external stimuli into neural signals via specialized receptors.

• Synaptic Plasticity: Discuss mechanisms of synaptic change, including development, learning, and memory. Key Concept: Hebbian learning—"Neurons that fire together, wire together."

• Neurodegenerative Diseases & Psychiatric Disorders: Describe causes and mechanisms underlying conditions such as Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, depression, and schizophrenia. Example: Alzheimer's disease is characterized by progressive loss of neurons and cognitive decline.

• Scientific Reasoning: Draw conclusions from data, distinguish causation from correlation, and consider alternative explanations. Example: Experimental studies can establish causality, while observational studies often reveal correlations.

Course Schedule (Sample Topics)

Week	Monday Topic	Wednesday Topic
1	Research Methods	Syllabus, Intro
2	Neuroanatomy (part 1)	Neuroanatomy (part 2)
3	Neurophysiology (part 1)	Neurophysiology (part 2)
4	Neuropharmacology	EXAM 1
5	Hormones	Life-span Development
6	Sensory Processing	Touch & Pain
7	Hearing & Balance	Taste & Smell
8	Vision (part 1)	Vision (part 2)
9	Motor Control & Plasticity	EXAM 2
...	...	...

Historical Perspectives in Brain & Behavior Research

• Ancient Views: Aristotle (350 BCE) believed the heart was the seat of mental capacities; Egyptians discarded the brain during embalming.

• Galen: Linked brain injuries to behavioral changes in gladiators.

• Leonardo da Vinci: Pioneered anatomical drawings and cross-sections of the brain.

• Descartes: Proposed dualism and the pineal gland as the mind-body junction.

• Willis: Systematic study of brain structure and disorders.

• Phrenology: 19th-century theory assigning functions to skull bumps.

• William James: Connected psychological ideas to nervous system properties.

• Hebb: Described neuronal assemblies and the principle "neurons that fire together, wire together."

Key Concepts & Definitions

• Action Potential: A rapid change in membrane potential that travels along the axon of a neuron. $V_m = V_{rest} + ext{depolarization}$

• Synaptic Plasticity: The ability of synapses to strengthen or weaken over time, essential for learning and memory.

• Homeostasis: The maintenance of stable internal conditions by physiological processes.

• Neurotransmitter: Chemical messenger released by neurons to transmit signals across synapses.

• Neurodegenerative Disease: Disorders characterized by progressive loss of neuron structure and function (e.g., Alzheimer's, Parkinson's).

Assessment Methods

• Exams: Multiple choice, closed book, in-class

• Neuroscience Quiz: Standardized, 20 questions, taken during final exam

• Reading Quizzes: Online, based on textbook, 3 attempts per quiz

• In-class Activities: Participation-based, problem-solving and critical thinking

Course Goals

• To understand ourselves and our place in the universe through the study of brain and behavior

• To address the prevalence and impact of neurological and psychiatric disorders

Additional info:

• Some course topics overlap with introductory neuroscience but provide greater depth and lab experience.

• Historical context is included to illustrate the evolution of ideas about brain function and behavior.