Human Development 220: 

The Human Brain and Mind 

Cornell University 

spring 2007 

3 credits 

Copyright © 2007 Matthew Belmonte

PREREQUISITES: Human Development 115 or Psychology 101

MEETING TIME: Tuesdays and Thursdays, 1.25-2.40pm, Plant Sciences 233

TA OFFICE HOURS: 

        Heather Gilmore: Tuesdays 12-1pm in MVR G86

        Kathleen Linnane: Wednesdays 3-4pm in MVR G86

INSTRUCTOR OFFICE HOURS: Thursdays 11.30am-12.30pm in Risley Dining.  (If you aren't on meal plan, just tell the door checker that you're there to speak with me.)  Exception: I will be out of town during both prelim days, but the TA's will be holding extra office hours those weeks.  Consulation also is available by appointment.  To make an appointment or to discuss anything about the course, please speak with me in person or by telephone (607.255.6385).  Do not send email.

URL: http://www.mattababy.org/~belmonte/Teaching/HD220/

DESCRIPTION: This survey of cognitive neuroscience introduces the biology that underlies human behaviour and cognitive processes such as language, reasoning, decision making, and emotion.  We begin with study of fundamental concepts in neurobiology and neuroanatomy, then explore a variety of topics, including how our brain underlies our perception, thought, language, emotions, memories, and desires. Relevant human clinical disorders are discussed throughout.  This implementation of the course will cover the same topics as in previous terms, but will take its examples and case studies from the intersection of neuroscience and the arts.  However, the focus of this course is science, and students need not necessarily have any background or specific interest in the arts.

TEXT: Mark F Bear, Barry W Connors, Michael A Paradiso. Neuroscience: Exploring the Brain3/e. Baltimore: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, 2007. ISBN 0-7817-6003-8

MARKS: 25% first preliminary exam, 25% second preliminary exam, 50% final exam.  Each preliminary exam covers four weeks of material; the final exam is cumulative.

SCHEDULE: The following schedule is approximate and may be adjusted as the term progresses.

DATE                TOPICS                                                                READINGS

T 23 Jan        history of neuroscience; science as an art                                ch. 1

Ð 25 Jan        the neurone                                                                ch. 2

T 30 Jan        resting membrane potential                                                ch. 3

Ð 1 Feb        excitable membranes and the action potential        ; curve-shifting        ch. 4

T  6 Feb        neurotransmission                                                        ch. 5

Ð  8 Feb        neurotransmitter systems, drugs and clinical disorders   ch. 6, ch. 15, ch. 22 pp679-684

T 13 Feb        neuroanatomy                                                                ch. 7

Ð 15 Feb        magnetic resonance imaging

T 20 Feb        the retina and early visual processing        ; visual art & visual illusions        ch. 9

Ð 22 Feb        higher visual processing; EEG & MEG                        ch. 10, ch. 19 pp 586-593

T 27 Feb        visualising cognition: functional imaging

Ð 1 Mar        FIRST PRELIMINARY EXAM

T  6 Mar        attention [Belmonte out of town, TA's presenting]                        ch. 21

Ð  8 Mar        the cochlea and auditory coding; music perception and MP3                ch. 11

T 13 Mar        disorders of attention; autism and art

Ð 15 Mar        guest lecture from Temple Grandin on autistic perception and cognition

T 27 Mar        the somatosensory system                                                ch. 12

Ð 29 Mar        the chemical senses                                                        ch. 8

T 3 Apr        the spinal & peripheral motor system        [Belmonte out, TA's presenting] ch. 13

Ð 5 Apr        SECOND PRELIMINARY EXAM

T 10 Apr        the central motor system                                                 ch. 14

Ð 12 Apr        control of social behaviour                                                ch. 17

T 17 Apr        sleep and dreaming                                                        ch. 19: 594-end

Ð 19 Apr        motivation and emotion; mood disorders and creativity        ch. 18, 16, rest of 22

T 24 Apr        brain development                                                        ch. 23

Ð 26 Apr        learning and memory                                                        ch. 24, 25

T 1 May        language and narrative thought                                        ch. 20

Ð 3 May        general review [Belmonte out of town, TA's presenting]

COLLABORATION AND ACADEMIC HONESTY: Each student in this course is expected to abide by the Cornell University Code of Academic Integrity.  Any work submitted by a student in this course for academic credit will be the student's own work.  The penalty for even one instance of academic dishonesty is a failing mark for the entire course.

EXTRA CREDIT
Students may complete up to four experiments for a total of 2% of the total possible course points to be added as extra credit to the final grade in the course. Completing one experiment equals 0.5% extra credit, two equals 1.0%, three equals 1.5%, and four equals 2.0%. Experiments must be at least 30 minutes long and approved through the course web site on SUSAN. Students will benefit by being exposed to empirical research.