PSY 340 (BSC 340) Brain & Behavior Syllabus

Schedule & Assignments are all listed at https://web.lemoyne.edu/~hevern/psy340_25S/psy340sked.html

Chapter readings are listed in the right column and are due on the day of the assigned class

Lecture Notes

All of my lecture notes are available at https://web.lemoyne.edu/~hevern/psy340_25S/psy340lectures.html. They will always be available by the day of the scheduled class.

Components of Course (% of final grade)

Four 1-period tests (each worth 22.5% of final grade)
Class Participation (10%) Attendance without active participation is equal to a participation grade of B (80%). Participation involves actually attending class, making comments, asking questions, contributing examples in discussions or via email to me.

Class Attendance. 5 cut limit. However, see the limited exceptions I list below.

Personal and Mental Health Concerns. We know that a significant number of students both at Le Moyne and nationally have been experiencing increased levels of anxiety, stress, depression, and other personal and mental health concerns. There are many sources of support and help that you have as a Le Moyne student. Please be sure to make use of them (see listing below).

Electronic Devices. During the actual class period, no cellphone should be used or even visible to me. Cellphones should be stowed in your backpack or pocket. If I see your cellphone during class, I reserve the right to deduct 5 points from among the 500 points earned in the class for each violation.

Please attend to your needs in regard to the bathroom/rest room before you come to class. On test days, students leaving to go to the bathroom will not be readmitted to continue the test. Let me know beforehand if there is a medical issue involved in needing to leave the classroom during a test.

Extra Credit

One book report can substitute for one weak/poor test (see below)
If any Psychology faculty member or student working with faculty are offering research opportunities for credit, I will accept participation for credit as the equivalent of 5 points (out of the 500 for the semester) for each participation (up to a total of 15 points)

Now, read the rest of the syllabus below

This page was last updated: January 11, 2025	Syllabus Spring 2025
	“Neuroscience is by far the most exciting branch of science because the brain is the most fascinating object in the universe. Every human brain is different - the brain makes each human unique and defines who he or she is.” Stanley Prusiner (Nobel Prize Winner) "Our kind of brain isn’t the biggest in the animal kingdom, and it’s not the best in any objective sense. But it’s ours. It’s the source of our strengths and our foibles. It gives us our capacity to build civilizations and our capacity to tear down each other. It makes us simply, imperfectly, gloriously human.” Lisa Feldman Barrett (2020)

Summary of Major Points in Syllabus Course Format The course will be held in Grewen Hall 207. • I do NOT use Canvas and NO notes, tests, or grades for this course are found in Canvas. Attendance and the Student's Job My job as a psychology teacher is to provide you with the best understanding of how our whole nervous system (and some other body systems) and our behaviors as people are related. I will do so with lectures in class that both verbally and visually will help you to understand these relationships *YOUR JOB* as a student is to learn what I (and the textbook) are teaching you. Only you can learn the material of the course and this will require real effort on your part. I can't do your job, only you can. I can try to help you, but, in the end, it is the student who learns. Both research and my experience over almost 4 decades of teaching come to a fundamental conclusion: STUDENTS NEED TO ATTEND CLASSES REGULARLY IN ORDER TO LEARN. I will expect that you will be in class on a regular basis. See details below for further guidelines on attendance. Office Hours My regular office hours in Reilly Hall 222 are Mon 2:30 to 4:30 pm and Tuesday, 3:00-4:00 pm, either in person or via Zoom. Students can also request to meet with me via Zoom at other times and days. Required Textbook Kalat, James W. (2019). *Biological psychology* (13th ed.). Belmont, CA: Wadsworth/CENGAGE. (This is not the 12th/2016 edition) ISBN-10: 9781337408202 [ISBN-13: 978-1337408202] Course Webpage Everything related to this course will be found on the PSY 340 webpage that can be accessed via my webpage at www.hevern.com Schedule & Assignments are all listed at https://web.lemoyne.edu/~hevern/psy340_25S/psy340sked.html Chapter readings are listed in the right column and are due on the day of the assigned class Lecture Notes All of my lecture notes are available at https://web.lemoyne.edu/~hevern/psy340_25S/psy340lectures.html. They will always be available by the day of the scheduled class. Components of Course (% of final grade) Four 1-period tests (each worth 22.5% of final grade) Class Participation (10%) Attendance without active participation is equal to a participation grade of B (80%). Participation involves actually attending class, making comments, asking questions, contributing examples in discussions or via email to me. Class Attendance. 5 cut limit. However, see the limited exceptions I list below. Personal and Mental Health Concerns. We know that a significant number of students both at Le Moyne and nationally have been experiencing increased levels of anxiety, stress, depression, and other personal and mental health concerns. There are many sources of support and help that you have as a Le Moyne student. Please be sure to make use of them (see listing below). Electronic Devices. During the actual class period, no cellphone should be used or even visible to me. Cellphones should be stowed in your backpack or pocket. If I see your cellphone during class, I reserve the right to deduct 5 points from among the 500 points earned in the class for each violation. Please attend to your needs in regard to the bathroom/rest room before you come to class. On test days, students leaving to go to the bathroom will not be readmitted to continue the test. Let me know beforehand if there is a medical issue involved in needing to leave the classroom during a test. Extra Credit One book report can substitute for one weak/poor test (see below) If any Psychology faculty member or student working with faculty are offering research opportunities for credit, I will accept participation for credit as the equivalent of 5 points (out of the 500 for the semester) for each participation (up to a total of 15 points) Now, read the rest of the syllabus below
Faculty Webpage Email Address Office Hours Reilly Hall 222	My faculty webpage: http://www.hevern.com = http://web.lemoyne.edu/~hevern/ Email: hevern@lemoyne.edu Mon 2:30-4:30 pm; Tue 3:00-4:00 pm & by appointment via Zoom or in person or, even, via email.
Required Text	Kalat, James W. (2019). *Biological psychology* (13th ed.). Belmont, CA: Wadsworth/CENGAGE. ISBN-10: 9781337408202 [ISBN-13: 978-1337408202] Used copies of this book are widely available since it was actually first printed in 2018 and has been used for three years in schools. A copy of this textbook is on reserve in the Noreen Reale Falcone Library at the 1st floor reserve desk.
Format of Course	Class lectures will be held in Grewen Hall 207. Lecture Notes, Schedule, Syllabus. My complete lecture notes for each class and an outline of each lecture (or a PowerPoint presentation) will be posted online via my faculty webpage [http://www.hevern.com = http://web.lemoyne.edu/~hevern/]. The class schedule and assigned readings are also found there. Finally I also include a copy of this syllabus in pdf form. Lecture notes will be available by the morning of the assigned class.
Internet	A student's Le Moyne e-mail account is considered to be an official mechanism of communication between the school and a student. I will usually communicate to the class or to individual students outside of class time by means of e-mail messages. Hence, you should check your e-mail regularly (at least once a day). I will try to respond to all student email messages within 24 hours. Occasionally, over weekends or during holidays, it may take me up to 48 hours to do so. As I note above, I will regularly post outlines of my class lectures and more detailed lecture notes online at this link. Students do not have to download copies of these, but many students find that access to these notes helps them study for class and for examinations.
College COVID-19 Guidelines	At the end of this syllabus, I have provided a copy of the official college policy statement about dealing respiratory illnesses for the Spring, 2025 semester. Please read through those guidelines. NOTE: If you are absent from class because you are sick, I expect that you will notify me by email (hevern@lemoyne.ed). Remember that if you are out of class at Le Moyne for three days or more, you are required to contact the Student Health Office. SEE BELOW NOTE: Our best hope to avoid unsafe health will be for all of us jointly to follow the guidelines.

Catalog Course Description	A study of the relationship of the brain and body to behavior. Emphasis is on the central nervous system. Topics include neuroanatomy, neural cell processes, hemispheric functions, hormonal regulation of behavior, physiological mechanisms involved in attention, arousal and sleep, and the neural bases of emotions learning and memory and psychological disorders. Prerequisites: PSY 101 or permission of the instructor.
Learning Objectives	This upper-level course is designed primarily for psychology majors as a general survey of psychology from the neuroscientific, physiological or biological perspective. It has been designed under the conviction that no psychologist can think of serving productively within the many specialties of the discipline over the next decades without a competent and broad understanding of the functioning of the central nervous system. At the end of this course, students are expected to be able to demonstrate a general understanding of the basic physiological structures and processes involving the human central nervous system; a general understanding of several key topics and issues which currently serve to direct the research efforts of physiological psychologists including evolutionary psychology, brain plasticity, and the effect of damage to the nervous system in altering behavior; and a general knowledge of the ways in which biological psychology offers explanations for or causal models of a range of human behaviors including receptive and expressive language functions, everyday activities such as sleep and eating, sexual development and sexual orientation, and mental disorders such as depression and schizophrenia.

Requirements & Guidelines
Class Attendance and Absences	Your job as a student in this course is to attend classes regularly. As noted earlier, both research and my experience over almost 4 decades of teaching come to a fundamental conclusion: STUDENTS NEED TO ATTEND CLASSES REGULARLY IN ORDER TO LEARN. I will expect that you will be in class on a regular basis. Your are expected to participate in class by joining in each of the three weekly class lectures. What about absences, that is, your not participating in the class lecture? Normally I require students to miss no more than 5 classes (5 "cuts") without a serious or compelling reason. Examples of a serious & compelling reason for additional absences must be a documented visit to a physician's office or participation at a funeral. If you are absent from school to attend a funeral, you must file a notice with either the Dean's Office or the Campus Ministry Office. If you become sick and expect to be out of class for 3 or more days or if you are required to quarantine yourself, you are supposed to contact the Student Health Services office: (315) 445-4440 Email: healthservices@lemoyne.edu. Note, because of HIPPA rules, the college will notify your professors if you are absent BUT THEY ARE NOT ALLOWED TO TELL YOUR INSTRUCTORS WHY YOU ARE ABSENT. If you are absent from my class for more than one day, you need to send me (and your other teachers) an email to explain why you were missing, particularly if your reason relates to sickness. For absences above the 5 cuts that have not been documented, I reserve the right to lower your final grade. Out of the total of 500 points across the semester that students are evaluated on, I reserve the right to deduct up to 5 points for each excessive absence. Students who have more than 10 absences in the semester (that is, more than 25% of all classes) put themselves in danger of failing. As usual, however, students participating on school-sponsored athletic teams are not subject to these limits. However, if you are on a team, you must give me a copy of the team's travel schedule that your coach will give you for my records.
Classroom Conduct	Students are expected to conduct themselves respectfully and appropriately in the classroom setting. Actions or behaviors that annoy, disturb or otherwise prevent orderly conduct in the classroom may be subject to disciplinary action. Possession or consumption of alcohol, cannabis, illegal or controlled substances is prohibited in classrooms, laboratories, and all other instructional spaces. In addition, a student who appears to be under the influence of alcohol, cannabis, illegal or controlled substances shall not be permitted entry into classrooms, laboratories, and all other instructional spaces.
Observance of Religious Holidays	As provided in New York State Education Law Section 224-a, any student who is unable to register for class, attend class, or participate in any examination, study or classwork requirements on a particular day because of his or her religious beliefs is eligible for an equivalent opportunity to register for classes or make up any missed examination, study, or classwork requirements, without penalties or additional fees. Students who require such an opportunity must contact the registrar (for registration) or their instructor (for examination, study or classwork requirements) at least two weeks in advance. A full copy of the College's policy on the observance of religious holidays can be found at either dean's office.
Reading Assignments	When you come to class, I expect that you will be prepared. This means that you will have completed the readings assigned for the class. Assignments are due on the first date indicated for each topic on the accompanying "Schedule of Classes and Assignments".
Course Tests	Four (4) summary examinations will be given in this course as noted on the accompanying "Schedule of Classes and Assignments". Each test will be worth 22.5% of your final grade. Absence from any exam without proof that attendance at that exam was extremely difficult or impossible will result in a grade of F for that examination. Ordinarily such proof would require authorization from the Dean of Students, a signed explanation by a physician, or the like. A "made-up" exam may include both a written and an oral section. Tests are only given on scheduled dates; there are no "early" tests. Note that Test #4 is given during "Finals Week." However, it is not a final exam. Rather it is just the fourth of the class period tests and, thus, the time limit for this test will be 60 minutes rather than 2 1/2 hours if it were an actual final exam. Students should attend to their personal needs vis-a-vis the bathroom/restroom before coming to class normally. On days of tests, a student who leaves the room during the test will not be readmitted.
Ethics	The Le Moyne College *Student Handbook* describes a broad range of behavioral expectations and guidelines for students. You should be aware of the importance of ethical behavior as you begin the study of psychology. Psychologists are expected to follow the guidelines of the American Psychological Association in regard to their professional conduct. These norms can be found online at <http://www.apa.org/ethics/>.
(1) Dealing with Personal Issues arising from class	This is an undergraduate course in biological psychology; you are not finishing a postdoctoral fellowship at Upstate Hospital's Neurology Service. Even though we will discuss many issues involving the relationship between the brain and behavior, you will not be in a position to "diagnose" the problems of another person (including yourself). Beware of the "Harvard Medical School Syndrome" which involves 1st year medical students who become convinced that they "have" any number of illnesses covered in their Introductory Pathology class. If any material in this course evokes difficulties or unease in you, please feel free to consult me confidentially. It is conceivable that we may discuss medical or other materials which mirror what you may be experiencing in your own family. Perhaps, some family member faced an illness or problem in the past and you are still upset about this. Perhaps you yourself have faced the issue. I would like to be able to help you find ways of coping with such matters.
(2) Students with Personal Problems	Students who encounter personal problems of any kind, especially problems that might affect their academic performance, are encouraged to contact the Wellness Center for Health and Counseling (https://www.lemoyne.edu/Student-Life/Student-Services/Wellness-Center). The Center is located in Romero Hall; appointments may be arranged by phone at 445-4195. The Center provides both individual and group counseling on a strictly confidential basis. The professional staff is also available on an emergency basis. When the Wellness Center is closed, for example, at night, the Le Moyne Security office (315-445-4444 or ext. 4444 on campus) can contact the professional staff for an emergency. Le Moyne subscribes to the My SSP online 24/7 service. You can contact My SSP at this link, or download the My SSP app, or call 1-866-743-7732. As their site explains: "Call. Chat. Anytime. Anywhere. My SSP connects students with free, confidential emotional health and wellbeing support conveniently available 24/7 via the app, telephone and web."
(3) Disabilities or Special Needs	Your access in this course is important. Any student who feels s/he may need an accommodation based on the impact of a disability should contact the instructor privately to discuss your specific needs. You should also meet with someone from Disability Support Services (DSS) about your disability and accommodation needs. The DSS office is located on the first floor of the library (315-445-4118; dss@lemoyne.edu). This should take place within the first 2 weeks of the semester.
(4) Issues of Cheating and Plagiarism	Cheating and lying are unacceptable at Le Moyne as stated clearly under "Academic Standards" in the Student Handbook. Plagiarism or cheating in any form is simply wrong. Please reread the section on "Academic Standards" in the *Student Handbook* to review what is meant by these terms. Recall that plagiarism involves the submission of any thoughts or formulations of other people without their being cited or given credit for those thoughts/formulations. For this reason, in any written materials submitted to me: You must put quote marks (" ") around any direct quotation of another person's writings and you must cite the source and page number (in APA format). You must cite the source (in APA format) for any thoughts or, even, for ways of expression which you have changed "into your own words". Note that the use of ChatGPT or similar AI sources for any written work falls under the plagiarism rubric above. For example if you submit to me a book report, I will have it checked to see whether it was generated by AI. If you fail to acknowledge your reliance on such a resource, you will receive a grade of F for that work.
(5) Confidentiality and Sensitive Matters	It is possible that we may discuss materials in class that elicit autobiographical statements of some depth and sensitivity from a class member. You are responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of classroom matters that involve another student who speaks about any personal experience or difficulty (unless that student openly gives you permission to break the confidence). Similarly, I should tell you that, to illustrate a point, I will make statements in class from time to time which involve my past contact with clients in my professional work. In all instances, such statements will disguise or otherwise alter the identity of that client so that, while the educational point of the statement will be true, some essential personal fact(s) about the client will be false. I will regularly distort descriptions of any past clients.
(6) Privacy, Copyright, & In Class Recordings	Both other students and I have an expectation that classroom discussions and presentations are meant only for class participants. We also have a reasonable expectation that students and the instructor will respect each others' privacy including, as noted earlier, maintaining confidentiality about personal matters discussed in class. The college's policy is that students must receive written permission from an instructor before sharing or posting in any other location any recording of class lectures or distributing comments or discussion materials involving the instructor or any students in the class. The penalties for unauthorized recording, sharing, distribution or retention of materials may range up to expulsion from the college. Note that this policy is college-wide, that all my own class lectures and presentations are Copyright © 2025 by me, and that violation of this policy allows me to penalize an offender with a failing mark in the course.