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PSYCH 260 Neural Basis of Human Behavior (3)
Prerequisites: None, but PSYCH 100 recommended.
“Most of us have spent some time wondering how our brain works. Brain scientists spend their entire lives pondering it, looking for a way to begin asking the question: How does the brain generate mind? The brain, after all, is so complex an organ and can be approached from so many different directions using so many different techniques that studying it is a little like entering a blizzard, the Casbah, a dense forest. It's easy enough to find a way in - an interesting phenomenon to study - but also very easy to get lost.”
-Geneticist, Susan Allport
Course Description
PSYCH 260 is designed to be an introduction to and overview of the general field of biopsychology. Theoretical perspectives and empirical research specific to the neurological basis of behavior will be presented and discussed. Students will be exposed to both classic and contemporary research in the field as well as the "real world" application of many of these studies. In addition to increasing your knowledge and understanding of the brain, its structures and functions, this course will challenge and encourage you to think critically about the information presented.
Objectives
After taking this course, students should have acquired the following skills and/or met the following goals:
- Acquired an overarching framework of the brain and its various functions, both at the cellular and structural levels.
- Gained an understanding of the various methodologies utilized in the field of biopsychology
- Developed the ability to critically evaluate and integrate information from empirical research to specific concepts within the field.
- Apply their knowledge of brain and behavior to their own real-life experiences.
Required Course Materials
Most World Campus courses require that students purchase materials (e.g., textbooks, specific software, etc.). To learn about how to order materials, please see the Course Materials page. You should check LionPATH approximately 3–4 weeks before the course begins for a list of required materials.
Library Resources
Many of the University Libraries resources can be utilized from a distance. Through the Libraries website, you can
- access magazine, journal, and newspaper articles online using library databases;
- borrow materials and have them delivered to your doorstep—or even your desktop;
- get research help via email, chat, or phone using the Ask a Librarian service; and
- much more.
You can view the Online Students' Library Guide for more information.
You must have an active Penn State Access Account to take full advantage of the Libraries' resources and services. Once you have a Penn State account, you will automatically be registered with the library within 24–48 hours. If you would like to determine whether your registration has been completed, visit the Libraries home page and select My Account.
Technical Specifications
| Operating System | Windows Vista, Windows 7, Windows 8*; Mac OS X 10.5 or higher *Windows 8 support excludes the tablet only RT version |
|---|---|
| Processor | 2 GHz or higher |
| Memory | 1 GB of RAM |
| Hard Drive Space | 20 GB free disk space |
| Browser | We recommend the latest ANGEL-supported version of Firefox or
Internet Explorer. To determine if your browser fits this criterion,
and for advice on downloading a supported version,
please refer to the following ITS knowledge base article: Supported Browsers and Recommended Computers.
Note: Cookies, Java, and JavaScript must be enabled. Pop-up blockers should be configured to permit new windows from Penn State websites. Due to nonstandard handling of CSS, JavaScript and caching, older versions of Internet Explorer (such as IE 6 or earlier) do not work with our courses. |
| Plug-ins | Adobe Reader [Download from Adobe]
Flash Player (v7.0 or later) [Download from Adobe] |
| Additional Software | Microsoft Office (2007 or later) |
| Internet Connection | Broadband (cable or DSL) connection required |
| Printer | Access to graphics-capable printer |
| DVD-ROM | Required |
| Sound Card, Microphone, and Speakers | Required |
| Monitor | Capable of at least 1024 x 768 resolution |
If you need technical assistance at any point during the course, please contact the Service Desk.
For registration, advising, disability services, help with materials, exams, general problem solving, visit World Campus Student Services!
Course Schedule
Note: If you are planning to graduate this semester, please communicate your intent to graduate to your instructor. This will alert your instructor to the need to submit your final grade in time to meet the published graduation deadlines. For more information about graduation policies and deadlines, please go to the Graduation Information on the My Penn State Online Student Portal.
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Readings |
Activities |
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Week |
Lesson |
Topic |
Text |
Supplements |
Quiz |
Exercises |
1 |
1 |
Introducing Biological Psychology |
Chapter 1 |
Lessons Commentary |
None |
Brainstorm #1 |
2 |
2 |
History of the Field |
Chapter 1 |
Lessons Commentary & “Franz Gall: Lost in Thought” |
1 |
None |
3 |
3 |
Research Methodologies |
Chapter 1 |
Lessons Commentary & “The Seahorse and the Almond” |
None |
None |
4 |
4 |
Brain Anatomy Part I |
Chapter 2 |
Lesson Commentary & “Toscanini’s Fumble” |
2 |
None |
5 |
5 |
Brain Anatomy Part II |
Chapter 2 |
Lesson Commentary & “Unpleasantness in Vermont” |
None |
Brainstorm #2 |
6 |
6 |
Cells of the Nervous System |
Chapter 3 |
Lesson Commentary & “Brain and Spinal Cord Injury” |
3 |
None |
7 |
7 |
Psychopharmacology Part I: The Neurotransmitters |
Chapter 4 |
Lessons Commentary & “The Girl with the Dancing Eyes” |
None |
None |
8 |
8 |
Psychopharmacology Part II: Drugs |
Chapter 4 |
Lesson Commentary & “The Case of Rose R.” |
4 |
Brainstorm #3 |
9 |
9 |
Vision Part I: The Eye and Vision |
Chapter 6 |
Lessons Commentary & “Believing is Seeing” |
None |
None |
10 |
10 |
Vision Part II: The Visual Cortex and Beyond |
Chapter 6 |
Lesson Commentary & “The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat” |
5 |
Brainstorm #4 |
11 |
11 |
Control of Movement Part I: Function |
Chapter 8 |
Lessons Commentary & “Knowing Where to Scratch” |
None |
None |
12 |
12 |
Control of Movement Part II: Disorders and Dysfunction |
Chapter 8 |
Lessons Commentary & “The Lizard” |
6 |
None |
13 |
13 |
Sleep and Waking |
Chapter 11 |
Lesson Commentary (no supplemental reading) |
None |
Brainstorm #5 |
14 |
14 |
Lateralization and Language |
Chapter 13 |
Lessons Commentary & “The Breakdown of Language” |
None |
Brainstorm #6 |
15 |
15 |
Schizophrenia |
Chapter 16 |
Lessons Commentary & “A 39 Year Follow up of the Genain Quadruplets” |
7 |
Term Paper Due |
Formal instruction will end on the last day of class. Provided that you have an active Penn State Access Account user ID and password, you will continue to be able to access the course materials for one year, starting from the end date of the academic semester in which the course was offered (with the exception of library reserves and other external resources that may have a shorter archival period). After one year, you might be able to access the course based on the policies of the program or department offering the course material, up to a maximum of three years from the end date of the academic semester in which the course was offered. For more information, please review the University Course Archival Policy.
Expectations
Students are expected to manage their time wisely in order to maintain an appropriate pace to complete all of the requirements before listed deadlines. This is especially true in regards to the term paper, as this assignment has multiple components that often take students a significant portion of the semester to complete. Additionally, students are expected to keep up with assigned readings accommodating lessons and discussion boards. By going over the required readings ahead of time, you’ll be more informed and have more that you can contribute to assignments.
Grading
Your course grade will be based off 3 main components: 1) lesson quizzes, 2) a series of brain exercises (brainstorms), and 3) a term paper.
1. Lesson Quizzes: Just about every other week an open-book/open-note (but not open-friend) quiz will be posted on ANGEL. These quizzes are designed to test your knowledge of the material presented in the lecture slides, and assigned readings for those weeks. Availability to complete each quiz lasts from Monday morning (9:00am) until Sunday night (10:00pm) of the assigned week outlined in the schedule. You will have 30 minutes to complete the 20 questions for each quiz. The format of these questions will typically be in multiple-choice. Each quiz will be worth 30 points and there will be a total of 7 quizzes across the semester. Thus together, your quizzes equal 210 points.
Please note: once you’ve logged in and started the quiz the timer continues to run. Thus for example, you cannot save your responses one night and decide to return later to complete the remaining items. Also, while you have up until late Friday night to complete the quiz, I would highly suggest taking the quiz earlier, just in case you run into computer issues such as internet access complications or computer crashes.
2. Brainstorms: Students will also be required to complete a series of 6 brain exercises over the course of the semester. These assignments will be provided to you via the ANGEL website under the “resources” tab. Each of these short assignments will consist of a series of application questions for you to answer related to a particular topic of the course. In some cases they will include a short reading or video to supplement the assignment. The goal of these assignments is to engage the student in thinking critically on the concepts and theories presented in the lessons. Each brain exercise will be worth 15 points, equaling a total of 90 points altogether. Brain exercises are due Sundays by 10pm of the week they are assigned.
3. “24 Hours in the Life of My Brain” Term Paper: Finally, you will be required to complete one major project over the course of the semester, which will be worth 140 points. This term paper consists of analyzing three events of your choosing from various points during your typical day. The purpose of the project is to allow students to the opportunity to investigate personal experiences from the lens of a biopsychologist. This paper will be due at the beginning of the 15th week of classes. A detailed outline of the assignment will be posted on ANGEL in the Brain Paper folder under the Lessons Tab.
Grade Distribution:
| Assignment | Points Possible |
Percentage |
| Lesson Quizzes (x 7) | 210 points |
(approx. 48%) |
| Brainstorms (x 6) | 90 points |
(approx. 19%) |
| Term Paper (x 1) | 140 points |
(approx. 33%) |
| 440 Total points |
Grading Scale:
| A | = 93-100% | 409- 440 pts. |
| A- | = 90-92.9% | 396 - 408 pts. |
| B+ | = 86-89.9% | 378 - 395 pts. |
| B | = 83-85.9% | 365 - 377 pts. |
| B- | = 80-82.9% | 352 - 364 pts. |
| C+ | = 76-79.9% | 334 - 351 pts. |
| C | = 70-75.9% | 308 - 333 pts. |
| D | = 60-69.9% | 264 - 307 pts. |
| F | = less than 264 points total |
Please refer to the University Grading Policy for Undergraduate Courses for additional information about University grading policies.
If, for reasons beyond the student's control, a student is prevented from completing a course within the prescribed time, the grade in that course may be deferred with the concurrence of the instructor. The symbol DF appears on the student's transcript until the course has been completed. Non-emergency permission for filing a deferred grade must be requested by the student before the beginning of the final examination period. In an emergency situation, an instructor can approve a deferred grade after the final exam period has started. Under emergency conditions during which the instructor is unavailable, authorization is required from one of the following: the dean of the college in which the candidate is enrolled; the executive director of the Division of Undergraduate Studies if the student is enrolled in that division or is a provisional student; or the campus chancellor of the student's associated Penn State campus.
For additional information please refer to the Deferring a Grade page.
Academic Integrity
According to Penn State policy G-9: Academic Integrity , an academic integrity violation is “an intentional, unintentional, or attempted violation of course or assessment policies to gain an academic advantage or to advantage or disadvantage another student academically.” Unless your instructor tells you otherwise, you must complete all course work entirely on your own, using only sources that have been permitted by your instructor, and you may not assist other students with papers, quizzes, exams, or other assessments. If your instructor allows you to use ideas, images, or word phrases created by another person (e.g., from Course Hero or Chegg) or by generative technology, such as ChatGPT, you must identify their source. You may not submit false or fabricated information, use the same academic work for credit in multiple courses, or share instructional content. Students with questions about academic integrity should ask their instructor before submitting work.
Students facing allegations of academic misconduct may not drop/withdraw from the affected course unless they are cleared of wrongdoing (see G-9: Academic Integrity ). Attempted drops will be prevented or reversed, and students will be expected to complete course work and meet course deadlines. Students who are found responsible for academic integrity violations face academic outcomes, which can be severe, and put themselves at jeopardy for other outcomes which may include ineligibility for Dean’s List, pass/fail elections, and grade forgiveness. Students may also face consequences from their home/major program and/or The Schreyer Honors College.
How Academic Integrity Violations Are Handled
World Campus students are expected to act with civility and
personal integrity; respect other students' dignity, rights, and
property; and help create and maintain an environment in which all
can succeed through the fruits of their own efforts. An environment
of academic integrity is requisite to respect for oneself and
others, as well as a civil community.
In cases where academic integrity is questioned, the Policy on Academic Integrity indicates that procedure requires an instructor to inform the student of the allegation. Procedures allow a student to accept or contest a charge. If a student chooses to contest a charge, the case will then be managed by the respective college or campus Academic Integrity Committee. If that committee recommends an administrative sanction (Formal Warning, Conduct Probation, Suspension, Expulsion), the claim will be referred to the Office of Student Accountability and Conflict Response.
All Penn State colleges abide by this Penn State policy, but review procedures may vary by college when academic dishonesty is suspected. Information about Penn State's academic integrity policy and college review procedures is included in the information that students receive upon enrolling in a course. To obtain that information in advance of enrolling in a course, please contact us by going to the Contacts & Help page .
Accommodating Disabilities
Additional Policies
For information about additional policies regarding Penn State Access Accounts; credit by examination; course tuition, fees, and refund schedules; and drops and withdrawals, please see the World Campus Student Center website.
Disclaimer: Please note that the specifics of this Course Syllabus are subject to change, and you will be responsible for abiding by any such changes. Your instructor will notify you of any changes.