Syllabus
Psy 377 Physiological Psychology MWF 8:30-9:30
Instructor: Dr. George F. Michel Office
Hours: MW 10-11,F 2-4
Office: 507 Bryne Hall
Telephone:
325-7887
E-Mail:
gmichel@condor.depaul.edu
Text: Rosenzweig, Leiman & Breedlove, Biological Psychology, 2nd Ed., 1999, Sunderland, MA: Sinauer.
Course Format: Each day I will lecture on the assigned topic and allow about 10-15 minutes for your questions and answers. I depend upon you for letting me know what parts of the text and/or lectures need clarification. Therefore, please read the text before lecture.
Grading: Your grade will be based upon your contribution to class discussion, your written homework assignments, and your performance on a midterm and final examination. Homework assignments will be given for each chapter (see enclosed pages). The homework is due on the first day for which the chapter is assigned.
Date Topic Assignment
1/6
Introduction
Ch
1
1/8-1/13
Neuroanatomy
Ch
2
1/15-1/20
Neural
Signals
Ch
3
1/22-1/27
Psychopharmacology
Ch
4
1/29-2/3
Hormones
Ch
5
2/5 MIDTERM
2/8-2/12
Sex
Ch
12
2/15-2/19
Rhythms
& Sleep
Ch
14
2/22-2/26
Emotions
Ch
15
3/1-3/5
Mental
Disorders
Ch
16
3/8-3/12
Language
& Cognition
Ch
19
3/18 8:45-11:00
FINAL
EXAM
Homework Assignments: Each assignment is due the first day of
class that the topic will be discussed. Please keep a copy of your homework
for your own records and use.
Chapter 2: a. Describe the major differences between glial
and neural cells.
b.
Identify the major structures in the forebrain, midbrain, and hindbrain.
Chapter 3: a. Describe the mechanisms involved in synaptic
transmission.
b.
Describe the distribution of positive and negative ions across the membrane
during the resting potential and explain the changes which occur during
depolarization, hyperpolarization, and the action potential.
Chapter 4: a. Describe 3 ways in which drugs can affect the
properties
of brain cells and give at least two examples.
b.
Describe the positive reward hypothesis of addiction and compare it to
at least one other perspective.
Chapter 5: a. Compare and contrast the properties of hormonal
and neural systems.
b.
Identify the main classes of hormones and describe, briefly, what they
do.
Chapter 12: a. State what is meant by the organizational and
activational roles of hormones in reproductive behavior and give two examples
of each role.
b.
Show how different levels and regions of the nervous system are involved
in reproductive behavior.
Chapter 14: a. Describe three major theoretical views about the
functions of sleep and for each, note one example of support and one example
of contradictory evidence
b.
List 10 physiological differences between SWS and REM sleep.
Chapter 15: a. Support the view that stress promotes human disease
and present 3 strong criticisms of this view.
b.
List 5 points about the neurobiology of aggression that reflect current
understanding of this issue.
Chapter 16: a. Describe both supporting and contradictory evidence
for the dopamine hypothesis in schizophrenia
b.
Describe the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal relations in depression.
Chapter 19: a. Discuss the value of research on bird song in
the study of human speech and language.
b.
Describe at least three major views about the nature of recovery of function
following brain lesions or damage.