Psychology 2220A FW25

 Introduction to Behavioural and Cognitive Neuroscience

Western University

London                   Canada

 

Department of Psychology

Fall/Winter 2025

 

Psychology 2220 A    Section 001

 

Introduction to Behavioural and Cognitive Neuroscience

 

1          Calendar Description

 

An introduction to the structure and function of the nervous system in relation to behaviour in humans (cognitive neuroscience) and other animals (behavioural neuroscience). Topics covered include: brain anatomy, neuronal function, drugs & addiction, research methods, sensory perception & motor actions, learning & memory, cognition, and neurological & psychiatric disorders. 

Antirequisites Neuroscience 2000, Psychology 2221A/B

Prerequisites: A mark of at least 60% in 1.0 credits of Psychology at the 1000 level. A background in biology is strongly recommended.

 

3 lecture hours

Course Weight: 0.5

 

Unless you have either the prerequisites for this course or written special permission from your Dean to enrol in it, you may be removed from this course and it will be deleted from your record. This decision may not be appealed. You will receive no adjustment to your fees in the event that you are dropped from a course for failing to have the necessary prerequisites.

 

2          Course Information

 

Instructor:                   Prof. Scott MacDougall-Shackleton

Office & Phone:          see OWL Brightspace

Office Hours:              TBA

Email:                          smacdou2@uwo.ca

 

Teaching Assistant:    TBA

Office:                         TBA

Office Hours:              TBA

Email:                          TBA

 

Time and Location of Classes: In-Person. See Student Centre for Timetable

 

For courses that include an online component, students must have a reliable internet connection and computer that are compatible with online learning system requirements.

 

3          Course Materials

 

Watson, NV & Breedlove, SM. The Mind’s Machine: Foundations of Brain and Behaviour. 5th Edition. Oxford University Press. 

The text is required for the course and is available through the campus bookstore in paperback ($183.60) or electronic versions ($88)  (link HERE)

 

4          Course Objectives and Learning Outcomes

 

Learning Outcome  

Learning Activity  

Assessment 

Depth and Breadth of Knowledge.  

Describe the basic principles of neurophysiology, brain structure, and function. 

Identify components of the central and peripheral nervous systems. 

Summarize the evolutionary history of the brain and its impact on behavior. 

Explain the neural mechanisms underlying various cognitive and behavioral processes. 

Quizzes 

 

Lectures and in-class Discussion

Quizzes 

 

Tests and Exams 

Knowledge of Methodologies.  

Recognize and compare experimental approaches used in neuroscience research. 

Identify challenges in neuroscience research and describe methods to address them. 

Interpret evidence and techniques used to determine how the central and peripheral nervous system function. 

Quizzes 

 

Lectures and in-class Discussion

Quizzes 

 

Tests and Exams 

Application of Knowledge.  

Apply knowledge to identify neural basis of cognition and behaviour. 

Apply knowledge to identify neural basis of psychopathology and disorders.

Discuss and generate questions about the neural basis of behavior and cognitive functions. 

Fact-check and find evidence for information related to neuroscience concepts. 

Quizzes 

 

Lectures and in-class Discussion 

 

Asking questions and participating in discussions 

Quizzes 

 

Tests and Exams 

 

5          Evaluation

 

Weekly Online Quizzes          (Best 10 of 12)                        10%

In class activities                     (Best 10 of 12)                        10%

Midterm Examination                                                             40%

Final Examination                                                                   40%

 

  1. Weekly online quizzes will be 5 multiple choice or similar questions. Students will have 30 minutes to complete the quiz; each quiz will be available for at least 5 days but must be completed before the weekly class meeting. The quizzes are open book.
  2. In class activities will occur during each class. These will include discussions or pop-culture quizzes where students work together to identify how a popular cultural reference connects to the week’s class topic. These activities will require an internet device (laptop or smartphone) in class to complete.
  3. The midterm exam will be scheduled outside of the regular class meeting time. It will cover materials from weeks 1-6 and will contain multiple choice and short-answer questions.

Please note that the midterm is considered to be central to the learning objectives for this course. Accordingly, students seeking academic consideration for this assessment will be required to provide formal supporting documentation. Students who are granted academic consideration for this assessment will be provided an opportunity for a make up midterm (see Policy on Missing Coursework below)

  1. The final exam will be scheduled during the December exam period. It will cover material from weeks 7-12 and will contain multiple choice and short-answer questions.

 

The evaluation and testing formats for this course were created to assess the learning objectives as listed in section 4 and are necessary for meeting these learning objectives

 

Policy on Missing Coursework

 

  1. No make-up will be provided for weekly online quizzes or in-class activities. Students who miss more than two quizzes or activities with valid medical or other accommodations for an ongoing issue will have their quiz marks reweighted within category. Please note, because not all elements of the quizzes are included in the final grade calculation, and because there is flexibility in the timing of the online quizzes, the instructor reserves the right to deny academic consideration for these missed elements.

 

  1. Students who have an accommodation to miss the midterm or final exam will be provided an opportunity for a makeup exam. If the makeup exam is missed due to an accommodation students may take the exam the next time the course is offered. Because the final exam is not cumulative, a missed midterm exam will not be re-weighted to the final exam and a make up exam is required to receive a grade for this course component.

 

University policy on academic considerations are described here. This policy requires

that all requests for academic considerations must be accompanied by a self-attestation.

Further information about academic considerations, and information about submitting

this self-attestation with your academic consideration request may be found here.

Please note that any academic considerations granted in this course will be determined

by the instructor, in consultation with the academic advisors in your Faculty of

Registration, in accordance with information presented in this course outline.

 

The Psychology Department follows Western’s grading guidelines:  https://www.uwo.ca/univsec/pdf/academic_policies/general/grades_undergrad.pdf

 

The expectation for course grades within the Psychology Department is that they will be distributed around the following averages:

 

70%     1000-level to 2099-level courses

72%     2100-2999-level courses

75%     3000-level courses

80%     4000-level courses

 

In the event that course grades are significantly higher or lower than these averages, instructors may be required to make adjustments to course grades. Such adjustment might include the normalization of one or more course components and/or the re-weighting of various course components.

 

Policy on Grade Rounding

 

Please note that although course grades within the Psychology Department are rounded to the nearest whole number, no further grade rounding will be done. No additional assignments will be offered to enhance a final grade; nor will requests to change a grade because it is needed for a future program be considered.

 

6          Assessment/Evaluation Schedule

 

Weekly online quizzes:           Available each Thursday and due by Tuesday before class.

Weekly in-class activities:      Conducted in class each week

Midterm Examination:            October 23, 7-9 PM

Final Examination                   to be scheduled during December exam period

 

7          Class Schedule

 

Tentative Course Schedule (Check OWL Brightspace site for updates)

 

Week

Date

Topic

Assigned Readings

 

1

09-Sep

Nervous System

Intro, ch 1

 

2

16-Sep

Neurophysiology

ch 2, 3

 

3

23-Sep

Neural Development

ch 4

 

30-Sep

non instructional day

4

07-Oct

Sensation and Perception

ch 5,6

 

5

14-Oct

Vision

ch 7

 

6

21-Oct

Behavioural Endocrinology

MIDTERM EXAM Oct 23 evening

7

28-Oct

Rhythms and Sleep

ch 10

 

FALL READING WEEK

8

11-Nov

Emotions

ch 11

 

9

18-Nov

Psychopathology

ch 12

 

10

25-Nov

Memory and Learning

ch 13

 

11

02-Dec

Attention and Cognition

ch 14

 

12

09-Dec

Language

ch 15

 

 

 

8          Academic Integrity

 

Scholastic offences are taken seriously, and students are directed to read the appropriate policy, specifically, the definition of what constitutes a Scholastic Offence, at the following Web site: https://www.uwo.ca/univsec/pdf/academic_policies/appeals/scholastic_discipline_undergrad.pdf.

 

Possible penalties for a scholastic offence include failure of the assignment/exam, failure of the course, suspension from the University, and expulsion from the University.

 

Statement on Use of Electronic Devices

 

No electronic devices will be allowed during midterm and final examinations.

Devices may be used during class and weekly quizzes.

 

Multiple Choice Exams

 

Computer-marked multiple-choice tests and/or exams will be subject to submission for similarity review by software that will check for unusual coincidences in answer patterns that may indicate cheating.

 

9          Academic Accommodations and Accessible Education

 

View Western’s policy on academic accommodations for student with disabilities at this link.

 

Accessible Education provides supports and services to students with disabilities at Western.

If you think you may qualify for ongoing accommodation that will be recognized in all your courses, visit Accessible Education for more information.  Email: aew@uwo.ca  Phone: 519 661-2147

 

10        Absence & Academic Consideration

 

Academic Considerations: https://registrar.uwo.ca/academics/academic_considerations/index.html

 

11        Other Information

 

 

Students who are in emotional/mental distress should refer to Health and Wellness@Western https://www.uwo.ca/health/ for a complete list of options about how to obtain help.

Please contact the course instructor if you require material in an alternate format or if you require any other arrangements to make this course more accessible to you.

 

If you wish to appeal a grade, please read the policy documentation at: https://www.uwo.ca/univsec/pdf/academic_policies/appeals/appealsundergrad.pdf. Please first contact the course instructor. If your issue is not resolved, you may make your appeal in writing to the Undergraduate Chair in Psychology (psyugrd@uwo.ca).

 

Copyright Statement

 

Lectures and course materials, including power point presentations, outlines, videos and similar materials, are protected by copyright. You may take notes and make copies of course materials for your own educational use. You may not record lectures, reproduce (or allow others to reproduce), post or distribute any course materials publicly and/or for commercial purposes without the instructor’s written consent.