http://homepage.psy.utexas.edu/HomePage/Class/Psy308/Alcantara/Index.html

Textbook: Foundations of Physiological Psychology, 6th ed., Neil R. Carlson 

Unique #: 43590	CPE 2.204, MWF: 2:00-3:00
Instructor:	Dr. Adriana Alcantara
Office:	SEAY Bldg. 5.240	TA:	Ewa Kacewicz
Phone:	(512) 232-5745	Office:	SEAY 3.414
e-mail:	alcantara@psy.utexas.edu	e-mail:	ekacewicz@mail.utexas.edu
Office hours:	MWF 12:30-1:30	Office hours:	MW 3-4 pm; F 1-2 pm

Course Description: Introduction to brain function and behavior. A biological approach to understanding the neural basis of behavior. Topics include: cellular and systems level neuroanatomy, chemical and electrical neurotransmission, psychopharmacology, vision, emotion, sleep, learning and memory, and such clinical disorders as drug abuse, Parkinson’s disease, and Schizophrenia.

Exams: There will be three exams and a comprehensive final exam. Each exam (worth 50 points) will consist of 50 multiple-choice questions. The exam questions will cover material presented in lectures and material from the assigned readings. You are responsible for all of the lecture material (even if it is not covered in the textbook) and for all of the material covered in the assigned readings (even if is not covered in lecture). Each exam will be worth 25% of your overall grade.

There will be no make-up exams. If you miss an exam, the final (comprehensive) exam will be worth 50% of your overall grade. The final, however, cannot be worth more than 50% of your grade.

Grades: The final grades at the end of the semester will be based on your cumulative score for all four exams. The highest score you can obtain is 200 points. The final letter grades at the end of the semester will be based on a grading curve. That is, the mean of the three highest cumulative scores in the class will be used as a reference score (100%); 90% of this reference score will be the cut-off for an "A", 80% for a "B", 70% for a "C" and 60% for a "D".

Please feel free to contact me regarding any questions you may have regarding your exam scores or regarding any material or topics covered in this class. Any issues regarding the exams, however, must be resolved before the final exam.

Please Note: The Psychology Department will drop all students who do not meet the prerequisite of having passed PSY 301 (Introduction to Psychology) with a grade of at least a "C".

Also, please refer to the General Information Catalog regarding the official dates and procedures for adding or dropping a class or for the option of taking a course on the pass/fail or credit/no credit basis (or see http://www.utexas.edu/student/registrar/cals.html). Final Exam schedules will be listed in the course schedule on the web: http://www.utexas.edu/student/registrar/schedules/072/finals/

The University of Texas at Austin provides upon request appropriate academic accommodations for qualified students with disabilities. For more information, contact the Office of the Dean of Students at 471-6259, 471-4641 TTY.