Professor: Heide D. Island, Ph.D.
Class: T, TR 1:00 – 2:35; Scott 221
Office: Carnegie 305, Email:
Office Hours: Wed., 9:05 am– 11:30 am and by apt.
Behavioral Research And Instructional Neuroscience [BRAIN Lab]: Carnegie 304
Use the lab space to study and work on class projects, you may also reserve space in the lab
COURSE DESCRIPTION
This course introduces the role of hormones in the development and activation of behavior as well as how behavioral interactions regulate endocrine physiology. A central topic of this course concerns the effects of sex steroid hormones on various reproductive behaviors (e.g., sexual and parental behaviors). Other topics covered include: the endocrine regulation of aggressive behavior, biological rhythms, energy balance, stress, learning, memory, and contemporary topics within endocrinology like hormone replacement therapy and the behavioral effects of endocrine disorders. Further, major classes of hormones including peptide and protein hormones, and the monoaminergic hormones will be discussed. FAIR WARNING: This class is largely comparative, so although we discuss human endocrinology, nonhuman animals are the traditional models for this discipline.
PREREQUISITES
This course is open to students who have successfully completed Physiological Psychology with a C or higher. BIOPSY III is the final course in the neuroscience series: PSY 252, PSY 352, and PSY 452.
LEARNING GOALS
If you put in the time to attend class, do the readings, study a minimum of 5 hours/week outside of class, you put effort into the laboratory exercises, the paper and the presentation, you will:
– learn behavioral endocrine research and methodology.
– understand the mediating role of hormones in behavior
– understand how to evaluate endocrine dysfunction through clinical cases
– improve your evidence-based writing skills
– learn the American Psychological Association manuscript style
– improve your presentation and public speak skills
REQUIRED MATERIALS
Nelson, R. (2011). Behavioral Endocrinology, 4th Ed., Sinauer: Sunderland, MA. ISBN: 0-87893-617-3
American Psychological Association (2001). Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association, 6th
Ed., Spiral Binding. Washington, D.C.: APA. ISBN: 1557988102
Additional article readings will be available for download through Moodle
USEFUL MATERIALS
Bear, M. F., Connors, B. W., & Paradiso, M. A. (2007). Neuroscience: Exploring the Brain, 3rd Ed.
Philadelphia, PA: Lippincott, Williams, & Wilkins. ISBN: 0-7817-6003-8
MOODLE / GREEN STATEMENT
In an attempt to accommodate the University’s Green initiative, I will post labs and handouts on Moodle, I would also like for you to return lab write-ups to my Pacific University email (do not use the Moodle email) as an attachment rather than hard copy, unless otherwise instructed. PLEASE NAME ALL DOCUMENTS BY LAST NAME AND ASSIGNMENT IN CAPS (e.g., SMITH – LAB 1) and email them to: . Further in order to maintain the confidentiality and privacy of your grades, I will not return any graded materials in class.
ACADEMIC HONESTY
Students suspected of cheating, plagiarizing, or otherwise misrepresenting one’s work will be reported. Theft of one’s intellectual property is as grave as stealing physical property, be warned- it will not be tolerated. If you have questions concerning the University policy on academic honesty, please refer to the student handbook.
CLASSROOM BEHAVIOR
From the Pacific University Faculty Handbook (Section 4.1.3)
The professor in the classroom should encourage free discussion, inquiry, and expression. Student performance should be evaluated solely on an academic basis, not on opinions or conduct in matters unrelated to academic standards. Students should be free to take reasoned exception to the data or views offered in any course of study and to reserve judgment about matters of opinion, but they are responsible for learning the content. Students should have protection through orderly procedures against prejudiced or capricious academic evaluation. At the same time, students are responsible for maintaining standards of academic performance established for each course in which they enroll. Students must also recognize that, as members of a community of learners, they have an obligation to be responsible members of that community, and that the exercise of their freedom of expression does not impinge upon the rights of others in their quest for learning. In addition, students must acknowledge the responsibility of the professor to create and preserve an environment conducive to learning of all students.
ACCOMODATED LEARNERS
Pacific University adheres to the requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act. If you need an accommodation under this Act due to a disability, if you have medical information to share with me, or if you require special arrangements in case the building must be evacuated, please let me know AND contact Edna Gehring in Learning Support Services (ext. 2107).
INFORMATIVE LINKS
Endocrine Source http://www.endotext.org/
Behavioral Endocrinology http://www.psy.jhu.edu/~ball/Other.html
Endocrine Web http://www.endocrineweb.com/
Endocrine System http://www.besthealth.com/besthealth/bodyguide/reftext/html/endo_sys_fin.html
Frank Beach http://www.nap.edu/readingroom.php?book=biomems&page=fbeach.html
History of Diabetes http://www.diabeteshealth.com/read/2008/12/17/715/the-history-of-diabetes?section=202
Diabetes Information http://www.diabetes.org/about-diabetes.jsp
Cushing Syndrome http://www.endocrine.niddk.nih.gov/pubs/cushings/cushings.htm
Hormone Replacement Therapy http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/hormonereplacementtherapy.html
Andropause Information http://www.andropause.com/
Menopause Information http://www.menopause.org/
Hormone Contraceptives http://www.contracept.org/hormonal.php
Hormonal Contraceptive Facts http://hcd2.bupa.co.uk/fact_sheets/html/hormonal_contraception.html
Anabolic-Androgenic Steroids http://www.nida.nih.gov/Infofacts/steroids.htm
GRADING CRITERIA
EXAMS
Your exam grades are based three 75 point exams with a total of 77 points available on each exam. Assuming you do not misinterpret any of the questions, you can earn 2 extra points on each exam or flub two questions without harm to your grade (this is the ONLY bonus point opportunities I provide). The typical exam covers three chapters of material.
LAB EXERCISES
There will be five laboratory activities, they should be written in APA format, using formal, unbiased language. You should use first person plural for all sections of the paper except the discussion, wherein the singular should be used (e.g., “I”).
EMPIRICAL REVIEW
You will be expected to select and write a comprehensive APA style paper on a topic of your choosing within the area of behavioral endocrinology. This paper should have a minimum of 10 primary source, peer reviewed articles cited and referenced for a comprehensive paper, other secondary sources (i.e., literature reviews), popular sources, etcetera may be used but do not contribute to the minimum reference number. Please the APA style guide for information on how to write an empirical literature review.
PRESENTATION
Given the enrollment limit for this course, you will be presenting your paper during the last two weeks of the semester. You will have 20 minutes for the presentation. See Moodle for the presentation criteria.
SCHOLARSHIP POINTS
Your education does not start and stop in the classroom; therefore, you are expected to participate in two scholarship activities. Scholarship points may include research participation (Participation Evidence: Research Receipt) or attendance at a lecture related to the course outside of our class (Involvement Evidence: Your ticket and a summary in APA format of what you learned). Failure to complete these two activities will result in an incomplete (I) in the course until completed, if these points are not made-up within the year you will receive a letter grade reduction on your transcript for the course. Examples of scholarship involvement: The Brain Awareness Lecture Series (www.oregonbrains.org/outreach/baw/); Linus Pauling Memorial Lecture Series (www.isepp.org), relevant lectures or book readings, or participation in student or faculty research.
GRADING RUBRIC LETTER GRADE SCALE
Evaluative Material / Points / Letter Grade Range / Point Range3 Exams (75 pts each) / 225 pts / A/- / 440 – 394
4 Laboratory Exercises (25 each) / 100 pts / B/- / 393 – 349
Topic Proposal/Bibliography / 15 pts / C / 348-305
1 Empirical Review / 75 pts / D/F / 304-0
Presentation / 25 pts
Scholarship Points (1 pt./activity) / C/I
TOTAL POINTS / 440 pts
Prof. Island Behavioral Endocrinology, Page 3 of 6
FLEXIBLE COURSE CALENDAR
WEEK / LECTURE / OF NOTE / READINGWEEK 1
Jan. 28 - 30 / Syllabus, Pre-test,
Introduction to BE/Methods / Nelson, Ch. 1, Pp. 1-35
WEEK 2
Feb. 4 - 7 / Methods
Neuroendocrine Systems / Lab 1: BE Methods, Blood Typing / Nelson, Ch. 2, Pp. 37-88
WEEK 3
Feb. 11 - 13 / Neuroendocrine Systems / Lab 2: Virtual Rat Endocrine Physiology
DUE - Lab 1: BE Methods, Blood Typing[1] / Nelson, Ch. 3,
Pp. 89-142
WEEK 4
Feb. 18 - 20 / Sex differences in behavior / DUE – Research Topic Bibliography
DUE - Lab 2: Virtual Rat Write-Up / Nelson, Ch. 4,
Pp. 143-200
WEEK 5
Feb. 25 - 27 / MEXAM 1 (Ch. 1-3)M
Male Reproductive Behavior / Nelson, Ch. 5,
Pp. 201-273
WEEK 6
Mar. 4 – 6 / Female Reproductive Behavior / Nelson, Ch. 6,
Pp. 277-334
WEEK 7
Mar. 11 – 13 / Parental Behavior / Lab 3: Hormone Replacement Therapy / Nelson, Ch. 7,
Pp. 335-390
WEEK 8
Mar. 18 – 20 / Social Behavior / Due - Lab 3: Hormone Replacement Tx Write-Up / Nelson, Ch. 8,
Pp. 391-452
WEEK 9
Mar. 25 – 27 / Spring Break No Classes
WEEK 10
April 1 – 3 / MEXAM 2 (Ch. 4 - 8)M
Homeostasis / Lab 4: Urine Examination and
Lab 5: Glucose Metabolism / Nelson, Ch. 9,
Pp. 453-510
WEEK 11
April 8 – 10 / Homeostasis/Stress / Due - Lab 4: Urine Examination Write-Up / Nelson, Ch. 11 (Skip 10)
Pp. 579-623
WEEK 12
April 15 – 17 / Stress
Stress/Affective Disorders / Due - Lab 5: Glucose Metabolism Write-Up / Nelson, Ch. 11 (Skip 10)
Pp. 579-623
WEEK 13
April 22 – 24 / Affective Disorders
WPA Conference – No Class / Due – Papers / Nelson, Ch. 13 (Skip 12)
Pp. 579-623
WEEK 14
April 29 – May 1 / MEXAM 3M (Ch. 9, 11, 13) Presentations / Due – PowerPoint Presentation
WEEK 15
May 6 / Presentations / Due – PowerPoint Presentation
WEEK 16 / MFINAL EXAM - CumulativeM / Scott 221
3:00 – 5:30 pm
Sat., May 10
Prof. Island Behavioral Endocrinology, Page 3 of 6
Prof. Island
Behavioral Endocrinology, Page 5 of 6
BEHAVIORAL ENDOCRINOLOGY CONTRACT OF UNDERSTANDING
I, (PRINT YOUR NAME) hereby acknowledge that I have received a copy of the Behavioral Endocrinology (PSY 452) syllabus for spring of 2014. I have read the syllabus and understand all of the course policies and requirements. I recognize that it is my responsibility to seek clarification regarding any aspect of the syllabus, the course requirements, or the grading policies if they are unclear to me. I acknowledge that the course calendar WILL change. I also acknowledge that the calendar represents a tentative schedule and that I am accountable to all calendar changes even if I am absent from class.
SIGN YOUR NAME / DATEPRINT YOU NAME
YOUR INFORMATION
Email is the preferred method with which I will contact you if I have questions concerning your assignments, please provide your preferred email address.
What is your email?What is your contact phone?
What is your major?
What is your minor?
What question/s would you like answered from this course?
What do expect from this course?
What are your concerns regarding this course?
How can I help you overcome these concerns?
What do you find helps you learn?
How many hours outside of class do you believe it will take to succeed in this course?
What grade do you expect to earn from this course?
Circle a block / A/A- B+/B/B- C+/C
[1] For all due dates except the presentations (due the day of your presentation), materials are due the end of the week Friday at
5:00 pm via email attachment.