Intersession Course: Brain Mechanisms of Reward

JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY

Department ofPsychiatry & Behavioral Sciences

Instructors Information:
Miranda Johnson, PhD
Email:
Ross 618, East Baltimore Campus / Kimberly Smith, PhD
Email:
Phipps 300 Suite, East Baltimore Campus
Course Number: AS.360.165.13
Distribution:
Credits: 1
Dates: Jan 8-26, 2018
Class Hours: MWF 4-5:45pm
Instructor Office Hours/Location: W 3-4pm in classroom
Classroom:
COURSE DESCRIPTION
This course is designed to provide a general understanding of the reward mechanisms of the brain and how reward processing affects behavior. The course is divided into sections providing an overview of the brain reward system, types of reward (i.e. natural and drugs of abuse), research models (human and animal models), and psychiatric conditions involving reward processing. Course material will include lectures and reading of primary literature. Assessments will be both written and oral.
COURSE LEARNING OBJECTIVES
Students should obtain a good working knowledge and basic understanding of the following areas:
1 / Brain reward system
2 / Animal models of reward
3 / Drug addiction
4 / Food and natural reward
5 / Reward-related psychiatric disorders
6 / Behavioral paradigms used to assess reward processing
REQUIRED MATERIALS
TEXTBOOKS / none
SUPPLIES / none
COURSE WEBSITE / none
EVALUATION AND GRADING
Grades will be based on the following assessments:
ASSESSMENT TYPE / PERCENT OF FINAL GRADE
Critical Review Paper / 30%
2 Weekly Quizzes (Fridays) / 30% (15% each)
Class Participation(includes presentation of journal article) / 20%
Oral Debate / 20%
ATTENDANCE POLICY
Attending class is necessary to prepare for quizzes,critical review paper, and oral debate. All quizzes will be given in class and will be based on lectures presented in class. In addition, class participation is 20% of grade.

JOHNS HOPKINS POLICIES AND SUPPORT SERVICES

This course is governed by the policies set forth in The Johns Hopkins University Undergraduate Student Handbook, which contains information on a wide variety of topics, such as support services, and policies relating to student rights and responsibilities. This course is governed by the policies set forth in this document.

Some JHU student support services you may find useful include:

SUPPORT SERVICE / LOCATION / PHONE NUMBER / WEBSITE
Library E-Reserves / /
Summer & Intersession Programs / 3505 N. Charles Street, Suite 101 / 410-516-4548

CLASSROOM ACCOMODATIONS FOR STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES

If you are a student with a documented disability who requires an academic adjustment, auxiliary aid or other similar accommodations, please contact The Office of Student Disability Services at , call 410-516-4720 or visit 385 Garland Hall.

STATEMENT OF DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION

Johns Hopkins University is a community committed to sharing values of diversity and inclusion in order to achieve and sustain excellence. We believe excellence is best promoted by being a diverse group of students, faculty and staff who are committed to creating a climate of mutual respect that is supportive of one another’s success.Through its curricula and clinical experiences, we purposefully support the University’s goal of diversity, and in particular, work toward an ultimate outcome of best serving the needs of students. Faculty and candidates are expected to demonstrate an understanding of diversity as it relates to planning, instruction, management, and assessment.

A WORD ON ETHICS

The strength of the university depends on academic and personal integrity. In this course, you must be honest and truthful. Ethical violations include cheating on exams, plagiarism, reuse of assignments, improper use of the Internet and electronic devices, unauthorized collaboration, alteration of graded assignments, forgery and falsification, lying, facilitating academic dishonesty, and unfair competition. Report any violations you witness to the instructor.

COURSE SCHEDULE

Week / Dates / Topics / Assignments/Reading
1 / 01/08/18 / Intro to brain reward system: neural circuitry and neurotransmitters involved in reward processing
1 / 01/10/18 / Research methods: animal and human models
Debate/critical review paper topics assigned / Journal article assignment
1 / 01/12/18 / Drugs of abuse: mechanisms of action and addiction / Journal article assignment
Quiz I
2 / 01/15/18 / Martin Luther King, Jr. Day: No Class
2 / 01/17/18 / Natural and food reward / Journal article assignment
2 / 01/19/18 / Reward and Cognition / Journal article assignment
Quiz II
3 / 01/22/18 / Psychiatric conditions with impairments in reward-processing / Journal article assignment
3 / 01/24/18 / Assorted topics in reward processing / Journal article assignment
3 / 01/26/18 / Oral Debates and course discussion / Critical review paper due at the beginning of class