SYSTEMS AND BEHAVIORAL NEUROBIOLOGY
Neurobiology 403 – Winter 2009
MWF 9.30-10.20; JHN 175

This site will be periodically updated. Last update 12/17/08.

I. Instructor
Jeansok J. Kim, GTH 335
Office Hour: By appointment
Phone: 616-2685; E-mail: jeansokk@u.washington.edu

II. Teaching Fellow
Benjamin Smarr, KIN 142
Office Hour: 10:30-11:30, Wednesdays
Phone: 616-3932; E-mail: smarrb@u.washington.edu

III. Scope of Class
This advance course offers a study in neuroanatomical, neurochemical, neurophysiological, and functional aspects of various behavioral and cognitive processes in vertebrate animals, with emphasis on mammals. Whenever appropriate, anatomical-morphological information will be emphasized to recognize the importance of structure in understanding function. The course will also introduce students to historical methodologies (ethology vs. behaviorism) to studying animal behaviors.

IV. Student Evaluation
Two examinations will contribute 75% to your course grade (midterm exam=50 points; final exam=100 points). All exams will consist of objective (i.e., multiple choices, true-false, matching) and short essay questions. Questions will be gleaned both from the textbook reading assignments (~40%) and from the lectures (~60%). The TA will hold review sessions prior to exams. The remaining 25% (50 points) of the grade will derive from the student’s paper on a topic relevant to neural substrates of animal behavior. The instructor MUST approve your paper topic by Feb 5 (read VII carefully!). The paper, via e-mail attachment, will be due March 9, Monday (before midnight).

V. Class Policy
Students are expected to take exams on assigned dates/times. Makeup exams, consisting entirely of essay questions, will be granted only with PRIOR PERMISSION BASED UPON DOCUMENTED EMERGENCY (such as severe illness, death in the family). If a student fails to arrange and take a makeup exam within a week of the original exam date, then he/she will receive zero credit. The term paper MUST be turned in by the prescribed date/time, and there will be absolutely no extension under any circumstances. There will be NO lecture notes and powerpoint files provided. Students are expected to earn their grades through personal mastery of the course material. Any attempt to earn grades by cheating/dishonesty will result in disciplinary action and an automatic grade of “fail” for the course. The instructor will strictly follow university regulations concerning requests for incompletes.

VI. Textbook
Behavioral Neurobiology - Thomas J. Carew (available at the University Bookstore). Supplementary readings will be distributed via e-mail.

VII. Class Outline (tentative)

Week Date Topics Readings
1 Jan 5 Introduction to Study of Animal Behavior Ch 1
2 Jan 12 Classical Ethology Ch 9
3 Jan 19* Behaviorism Handouts
4 Jan 26 Learning & Memory: General Concepts Ch 10
5 Feb 2 Learning & Memory (continued)

TERM PAPER TOPIC Due
(Tues, 2/3)

Review (Fri, 2/6)

 Handouts
6 Feb 9

MIDTERM (Mon, 2/9)

Biological Rhythms

 Ch 11
7 Feb 16* Cerebellum and Motor Learning Handouts
8 Feb 23 Amygdala and Emotional Plasticity Ch 12
9 Mar 2 Hippocampus and Spatial Learning Handouts
10 Mar 9 Working Memory and Decision Making

 

PAPER DUE via E-MAIL (Mon, 3/9)

 

Review (Fri, 3/13)

 Handouts
11 Mar 18 (Wed) FINAL EXAMINATION 8:30 - 10:20 am JHN 175  

*Holidays: 1/19 Martin Luther King Day; 2/16 Presidents Day

VIII. Paper
Your paper topic must be PRE-APPROVED by the instructor (e-mail your paper topic by 2/3, Tues; one pt per day will be deducted after midnight), and your paper has to be UNIQUE to this class (no recycling or co-submission with another course). The paper due date is March 9, Monday via e-mail, and the paper should closely follow the format listed below:
1. The paper should be typed (1.25 inch margins all sides), double-spaced, left justified, and include a minimum of 5 references. The content of the paper should be a review in style, concluding with your personal viewpoint on the subject topic.
2. The references can be from research and review journal articles, books and book chapters; but NOT from internet and popular reading sources (such as newspapers, popular magazines).
3. A title page including your name and UW ID# (separate page, numbered page 1).
4. A brief abstract summarizing the paper (separate page, numbered page 2).
5. Approximately 8 to 10 pages of text (start on a new page, numbered page 3).
6. Each text citation should be listed alphabetically in the reference section (separate page).
Late submission will be penalized 5 points per day (beginning 3/9, midnight; verified by the time-stamped e-mail)Additional points will be deducted if the paper format is not satisfied.


IX. Grading (tentative)

GRADE PERCENTILE - (Spoints/200)*100%
4 - 3.8 > 93
3.7 - 3.5 92-88
3.4 - 3.2 87 - 80
3.1 - 2.8 79 - 73
2.7 - 2.5 72 - 66
??? < 65

CLASS RESOURCES

Discussion forum: https://catalysttools.washington.edu/gopost/board/jeansokk/8871/
Instruction on EPost: http://catalyst.washington.edu/help/gopost/index.html

SCORES (To be posted)

ID Midterm Paper Final Extra pt SPts % Grade
439469 42 44 68 2 156 78 3.1
311756 48 50 81 2 181 90.5 3.6
524688 43 50 88 2 183 91.5 3.7
520078 48 48 91 2 189 94.5 3.9
522081 44 50 84 2 180 90 3.6
522345 49 50 84 2 185 92.5 3.8
521713 46 50 91 2 189 94.5 3.9
523600 46 50 84 2 182 91 3.6
522335 49 50 91 2 192 96 4
527580 48 46 92 2 188 94 3.9
522134 43 50 70 2 165 82.5 3.2
423473 44 50 80 2 176 88 3.5
636538 43 50 79 2 174 87 3.4
9629169 43 50 81 2 176 88 3.5
521395 43 44 76 2 165 82.5 3.2
530663 47 49 78 2 176 88 3.5
639577 46 49 77 2 174 87 3.4
524080 45 50 85 2 182 91 3.6
531246 43 50 83 2 178 89 3.5
840581 46 40 75 2 163 81.5 3.2
438422 47 50 79 2 178 89 3.5
439167 44 49 86 2 181 90.5 3.6
53840 43 50 87 2 182 91 3.6
522903 44 44 78 2 168 84 3.3
314071 46 50 80 2 178 89 3.5
232638 45 50 87 2 184 92 3.7
523060 50 50 92 2 194 97 4
524649 44 50 88 2 184 92 3.7
534790 42 50 85 2 179 89.5 3.6
635508 42 50 83 2 177 88.5 3.5
620799 33     2 35 17.5  
528143 43 50 81 2 176 88 3.5
524402 45 49 86 2 182 91 3.6
339952 45 49 79 2 175 87.5 3.5
534797 43 48 76 2 169 84.5 3.3
521504 44 48 90 2 184 92 3.7
421620 42 50 88 2 182 91 3.6
533028 44 49 80 2 175 87.5 3.5
627013 41 49 78 2 170 85 3.3
520983 47 50 87 2 186 93 3.8
531939 43 50 77 2 172 86 3.4
531940 46 48 73 2 169 84.5 3.3
623634 45 50 90 2 187 93.5 3.9
522544 46 49 89 2 186 93 3.8
522972 46 50 68 2 166 83 3.2
523448 43 50 87 2 182 91 3.6
521767 44 49 79 2 174 87 3.4
530124 45 50 74 2 171 85.5 3.3
524781 46 50 80 2 178 89 3.5
523729 38 50 82 2 172 86 3.3
MEAN 44.46939 49 82.184 175 87.5 3.54286
SD 2.807861 2.041 6.2004 21.677 10.838 0.22267