Psychology 123: Cognitive Neuroscience

Spring 2008 Syllabus

 

 

Professor Michael Miller

Office; Psychology East #: 3385: phone #893-6190: email; miller@psych.ucsb.edu

Office hours: Tues. 3:30 PM – 5:00 PM, or by appointment.

Course website:  http://mentor.lcsf.ucsb.edu/course/spring/psych123

Teaching assistant: Ben Turner, turner@psych.ucsb.edu, office hours: MW 12:00 – 1:00 Psych#1504

Textbook: Cognitive Neuroscience; Second Edition. By Gazzaniga, Ivry, & Mangun. Published by W.W. Norton.

 

 

Exam Date

% of final grade

Exam 1

Apr. 22

25%

Exam 2

May 20

35%

Final Exam

June 11  7:30 pm

40%

 

Course Description and Goals:

            The purpose of this course is to introduce you to the newly emerging field of Cognitive Neuroscience. Cognitive Neuroscience strives to understand the relationship between brain function and the mind using a variety of investigative techniques including studies of brain damaged patients, single-cell recordings, neuroimaging, electrophysiological recordings, brain stimulation, and others. We will cover topics ranging from specialized neural processes underlying face perception to brain regions implicated in language processing, memory, and emotions; from theories of evolution and brain development to theory of mind and the neural processes that give rise to consciousness. In the end, we hope that you will have a better appreciation for how the mind emerges from the brain. Lecture slides will be made available on the website after each lecture.

 

Exams:

            All three exams will consist of a variety of multiple-choice, short answer, and very short essay questions based on the lectures and readings from that unit. The first two exams will be given during class time and the third exam will be given during the final exam period. ANY material covered in the lectures or reading may appear on the exam. You are allowed one sheet of notes for the exams. If you must miss an exam for any reason, then you can make it up by taking a full essay exam. All make-up exams must be taken during a time that is convenient for the teaching assistant. 

 

Final Grade Scale:

97-100 A+       87-89   B+       77-79   C+       67-69   D+       59 and below:  F

93-96   A         83-86   B         73-76   C         63-66   D

            90-92   A-        80-82   B-        70-72   C-        60-62   D-

 


SCHEDULE OF CLASS TOPICS AND READINGS

DATES

CONTENT

Chapter

Unit 1

 

 

4/1

Course introduction

1

4/1

The Neuron

2

4/8

Neuroanatomy

3

4/8

Cognitive Neuroscience Methods

4

4/15

Cognitive Neuroscience Methods part2

 

4/15

Perception

5

4/22

EXAM 1

 

Unit 2

 

 

4/22

Language

9

4/29

Face/object recognition (prosopagnosia)

6

4/29

Attention  (neglect)

7

5/6

MemoryÊ systems

8

5/6

Memory  systems

 

5/13

MemoryÊ systems part 2

 

5/13

Lateralization (split-brain)

10

5/20

EXAM 2

 

Unit 3

 

 

5/20

Frontal Lobes

12

5/27

Executive Functions

 

5/27

Evolution & Sex differences

14

6/3

Development & Theory of Mind

15

6/3

Consciousness

16

6/11

FINAL EXAM  @ 7:30pm