Goals and Objectives: Students will be introduced to the basic structure and functions of the human brain by studying normal neuroanatomy and neurophysiology. With this background, human behavior will be studied by examining the pathophysiology of abnormal behavior, e.g., Parkinson's disease, schizophrenia, addiction, depression, and Alzheimer's disease. The implications for treatment strategies and understanding of normal behavior will be discussed. Concomitantly, students will be introduced to the scientific literature, information resources, the culture of science and scientists, and scientific skepticism in the evaluation of data.

Course Description: Normal Brain and Disordered Behavior is a 3 credit, introductory course for nonscience majors. The course format will be a mix of lectures, student presentations, discussions, and written assignments. Human behavior will be studied by examining the quantitative mechanisms underlying abnormal behavior as examples of "natural" experiments which shed light on normal behavior. The consideration of each disordered behavior will include an introductory lecture and student presentations followed by discussion based on supplementary readings. Grades will be based on presentations, discussions, and essays. There are no prerequisites. The course is limited to Honors students with nonscience majors, or by special permission.

Class Times: TBA, UCOM 6001 (Conference Room)

Instructional Materials: No text. A course packet of lecture notes, supplementary readings, and videos will be available.

Office Hours: TBA

Class attendance is mandatory. Unexcused absences will detract from your grade.

Grading: 40% two class presentations
20% class participation
40% term paper
Evaluations will include clarity and organization of presentations and writing, resourcefulness, originality and creativity, and adherence to instructions. Student presentations will consist of recent findings related to the week's topic. Term papers will be a critical analysis of an article in the popular press related to course topics.
No exams are planned.
Missed or late assignments will be penalized. Makeup assignments will be permitted only for excused absences.

In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, students with bona fide disabilities will be afforded reasonable accommodation. The Office of Special Student Services will certify a disability and advise faculty members of reasonable accommodations. “If you have a specific disability that qualifie syou for academic accommodations, please notify me (the instructor/professor) and provide certification from Disability Services (Office of Special Student Services). The Office of Special Student Services is located in the Student Center, Room 270, Phone 460-7212.”

Class Topics
Week 1 Course Introduction, neurons, neurophysiology, synaptic transmission
Week 2 Neuroanatomy, brain labs
Week 3 Sensory and motor systems
Week 4 Higher cognitive functions
Week 5 Parkinson's disease and motor control
Week 6 Schizophrenia and dopamine
Week 7 Amblyopia, prosopagnosia, and parallel distributed processing in vision
Week 8 Aphasias and language
Week 9 Addiction and the pleasure center
Week 10 Depression, aggression and PMS
Week 11 Split-brain patients
Week 12 Repair and regeneration in the CNS
Week 13 Attention, memory, and Alzheimer's disease
Week 14 Brain plasticity
Week 15 Term paper presentations, discussion of free will and legal insanity

Possible additional topics:
Brain development in a stimulus-rich environment
Voles and the sexual brain
The function of sleep
Brain stressors
How the body controls the brain
The placebo effect and alternative medicine
The frontal lobe and teenage personalities