"Everyone you ever meet knows something you don't" - Bill Nye
"Everyone you ever meet knows something you don't" - Bill Nye
Psyc 3217 - Biological Psychology (Fall 2023)
Survey of the physiological basis for sensation and perception, motivation and emotion, altered states of consciousness, and learning and memory. Basic neurophysiological methods and the functions of the nervous system included.
Psyc 3219 - Human Neuropsychology (Fall 2023)
Examination of neuroimaging and neuropsychological methods used to study behavior and mental function from a systems-level perspective. Survey of research in the areas of cerebral asymmetry, voluntary action, spatial processing, object recognition, attention, language, memory, and executive function, with special emphasis on disorders of these functions resulting from damage to the brain.
Psyc 210L - Psychology of Sleep (Fall 2022)
We spend approximately 1/3 of our lives asleep, and decades of research have supported the idea that both the quantity and quality of sleep impacts our physical and brain health. For instance, sleep deprivation can have short-term effects on cognitive processes (such as attention and memory) as well as long-lasting effects on general well-being (such as depression and anxiety). This course includes a survey of the history and major fields of research on human and animal sleep. It includes an in-depth study of several current areas of behavioral research in human sleep and dreaming. It also includes such topics as research methods, sleep length, sleep deprivation, sleep problems, drug use, and dreaming.
Psyc 306L - Cognitive Neuroscience and Neuropsychology and Lab (Fall 2022, Spring 2023)
This course will include with an overview of the structure of the nervous system and how communication happens within it; introduce students to methods of cognitive neuroscience and neuropsychology, and investigate topics such as sensation and perception, attention, memory, language and executive function using these methods. In the lab portion of this course, students will participate in behavioral and psychophysiological tasks related to these topics.
Psyc 343L - Sensation and Perception (Spring 2023)
This course will introduce the biological and psychological processes underlying how we interpret and interact with the world. Topics covered will include the physiology of sensory systems (vision, audition, smell, taste, and touch), and the perceptual processing and higher-level contributions leading to our constructed experience of reality. Incorporating personal experience and perceptual illusions, we will explore the nature of the physical world and our role as observers and participants.
MSE 2702 - While You were Sleeping: The Neuroscience of Sleep (Spring 2019; Fall 2020; Spring 2021)
We spend approximately one-third of our lives asleep, and decades of research have supported the idea that both the quantity and quality of sleep impact our physical and brain health. Throughout this course, we will examine the current research on normal human sleep, circadian rhythms, and the effects of deprivation. We will also discuss the importance of “sleep hygiene”, where students will learn a variety of practical habits that will improve their sleep quality. In addition, students will gain hands-on experience with behavioral, physiological, and neuroscience techniques as we explore basic concepts used in the scientific study of human sleep.
Psyc 1000 - General Psychology (Fall 2021)
This course explores what we have learned about the mind and behavior from psychological science. We will cover a wide variety of topics including research methods, neuroscience, learning, memory, human development, personality, social influences on behavior, stress/health, and psychological disorders and treatments. Lectures will be given each week supplemented by class discussions, online materials, and in-class demonstrations.
Psyc 2000 - Intro Statistics (Spring 2022)
Basic concepts, assumptions, and applications of descriptive statistics and inferential statistics.
Neur 201 – Introduction to Neuroscience (Fall 2016; Spring 2017).
This course introduces students to the interdisciplinary field of neuroscience using a problem-based approach. The structure and function of the brain are explored at molecular, cellular, and systems levels. Students become familiar with approaches used by neuroscientists as well as the connections between neuroscience and other disciplinary fields.
Psych 110 Lab – Introduction to Psychology (Lab Section Only) (Fall 2016; Fall 2017).
Psychology is the scientific study of behavior and of underlying mental and physiological processes. Students are introduced to the goals of psychological science, the nature of scientific thinking, and the scientific methods psychologists use to study, explain, and predict animal and human behavior. A variety of content areas are discussed. Students apply their knowledge in weekly laboratory activities with animals and human participants, using various scientific methods.
Psyc 120 – Quantitative Methods in Psychology (Spring 2017; Fall 2017; Spring 2018).
An introduction to basic research design, measurement, and the use of descriptive and inferential statistics in psychological research. Topics include correlation, regression, reliability, validity, hypothesis testing, nonparametric techniques, and inferential statistics such as t-tests and analysis of variance. The Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) is presented and utilized in a computer component of the course.
Psyc 324 – Comparative Psychology: Animal Behavior Lecture & Lab (Fall 2016; Fall 2017).
Examines how evolution has shaped the behaviors of animals to be adaptive, primarily exploring the functional significance of animal behavior. Topics include animal communication, foraging, antipredator strategies, sociality, mating systems, and parental care patterns. Laboratory involves naturalistic observations and experimental research with a variety of animal species.
Psyc 372 – Special Topics: Psychological Diseases: Brain & Behavior (Spring 2017; Spring 2018).
This course will utilize an advanced seminar-style approach to provide an in-depth look at psychological diseases from a brain-behavior perspective. We will review the neurobiological underpinnings of disease and the resulting psycho-behavioral outcomes, as well as emphasize current research and treatments through the examination of case studies and peer-reviewed research. The course will highlight such topics as language after stroke, emotional processing in traumatic brain injury, and working memory in multiple sclerosis.
Psyc 203 – Introduction to Psychological Research (Fall 2015).
The course will introduce students to different methods of psychological research including survey, correlational and experimental methods. Introductory descriptive statistics and correlational analysis will be covered. Basic aspects of sound scientific writing, including conducting a literature search and writing a scientific manuscript following American Psychological Association guidelines, will be emphasized.
Psyc 308 – Perception (Spring 2015; Fall 2015).
Discusses the theory and procedure of perceptual research. Theoretical approaches; modern psychophysical and perceptual research; traditional problems of perception, constancies of size and color brightness.