SYLLABUS: PSY 425 Cognitive Neuroscience

University of Nevada, Las Vegas

Spring 2022

Class Meeting Schedule

 Location: CBC C222
 Meeting Times: MW 11:30 AM – 12:45 PM

Prerequisites
PSY 210 (Introduction to Statistical Methods) or an equivalent statistics course, and either PSY 303
(Foundations of Physiological Psychology), PSY 305 (Foundations of Perception), or PSY 316
(Foundations of Cognitive Psychology)

Instructor Information
 Instructor: XXXX XXXX, Ph.D.
 Office: CBC B345
 Phone: 702-895-5591
 Email: [email protected]
 Office Hours: Available upon appointment

Required Material
Gazzaniga, M. S., Ivry, R. B., & Mangun, G. R. (2019). Cognitive neuroscience: The biology of the
mind (5th ed.). W. W. Norton & Company. (ISBN-13: 978-0393603170; ISBN-10: 0393603172)

Course Objectives
Cognitive neuroscience is a relatively new field that primarily arose in the late 20th century from the
confluence of two pre-existing fields of research (cognitive psychology and neuroscience). This was
possible in part because of new technologies that enabled scientists to make unprecedented
measurements of the size, shape, and activity of the human brain, and compare these brain
measurements directly with peoples’ behavior. This course will focus primarily on research from the
past few decades documenting structural and functional aspects of the brain that allow us to perceive
through our senses, move with our bodies, learn and recall skills and information, and perform other
cognitive abilities shared by most people and many non-human animals.

Course Learning Outcomes

1. To gain knowledge on the theoretical and empirical investigations of cognitive neuroscience
2. To apply the scientific process by conducting a literature review
3. To explore cognitive neuroscience by reading, writing, and discussing a peer reviewed
journal article

Attendance
This class will involve complex discussions about brain functions and cognitive processes. The
purpose of the in-class lectures is to help students get a better grasp of the topics in the textbook. It is
crucial that students come to class to enhance their learning experience; no PowerPoint slides will be
provided outside of the class lectures. If students miss a class, those students are responsible for
obtaining the notes from their classmates. Students are encouraged to ask questions if they need
clarity with any of the topics being lectured.

Writing Assignment
Students will choose a topic of interest related to cognitive neuroscience by going over a peer-
reviewed journal article. Please note that the resource cannot be from a book chapter, an article
review, a book, or any secondary resources (e.g., a magazine or a specific website). The purpose of
this activity is to engage in scientific research so that students have a firsthand experience of how
research is conducted and how theories are expanded upon through empirical findings. Further
instructions will be provided for this writing assignment. This writing assignment is worth 20 points.

Quizzes
Cognitive research has shown that testing repeatedly on a subject strengthens people’s ability to
remember the information over time (also known as the testing effect or test-enhanced learning;
Roediger & Karpicke, 2006). To this end, I will be quizzing students weekly based on the lectures
given to them. The purpose of these quizzes is to help students prepare for their upcoming exams.
Note that I will notify students of what to study for when it comes to these quizzes. For instance, if I
gave the class a lecture on Monday, I will be quizzing students on Wednesday based on that
Monday’s lecture. There will be a total of 20 quizzes given throughout the semester, each worth 2
points (a total of 40 points). NO MAKEUP QUIZZES will be given except for legitimate
emergencies with documentation.

Exams
There will be four noncumulative exams based on three chapters of each unit. Although these exams
are noncumulative, it is imperative that students understand their knowledge from previous chapters
to set the foundation for learning topics in future chapters. Each exam is worth 100 points, a total of
400 points (4 exams X 100 points = 400 points). NO MAKEUP EXAMS will be given except for
legitimate emergencies with documentation.

Grading Scale and Points

Grade Scale
 A = 90-100%
 B = 80-89%
 C = 70-79%
 D = 60-69%
 F = 0-59%

Course Points
 Writing Assignment = 20 points (4%)
 Quizzes (2 points each) = 40 points (9%
 Exams (100 points each) = 400 points (87%)
Tentative Schedule
The schedule below includes a list of the topics covered, along with the assigned readings from the
textbook (listed as pages).

Section 1 (weeks 1-5)

 A brief history of cognitive neuroscience (pages 2-21)
 Structure and function of the nervous system (pages 22-71)
 Methods of cognitive neuroscience (pages 72-123)
 Exam 1

Section 2 (weeks 6-9)

 Hemispheric specialization (pages 124-167)
 Sensation and perception (pages 168-221)
 Attention (pages 274-323)
 Exam 2

Section 3 (weeks 10-12)

 Memory (pages 378-425)
 Emotion (pages 426-473)
 Language (pages 474-513)
 Exam 3

Section 4 (weeks 13-16)

 Cognitive control (pages 514-565)
 Social cognition (pages 566-617)
 The consciousness problem (pages 618-657)
 Exam 4

University Resources and Policies

Public Health Directives
Face coverings are currently mandatory for all faculty and students in the classroom. Students must
follow all active UNLV public health directives while enrolled in this class. UNLV public health
directives are found at Health Requirements for Returning to Campus. Students who do not comply
with these directives may be asked to leave the classroom. Refusal to follow the guidelines may
result in further disciplinary action according to the UNLV Student Conduct Code, including being
administratively withdrawn from the course.

Academic Misconduct
Academic integrity is a legitimate concern for every member of the University community. We all
share in upholding the fundamental values of honesty, trust, respect, fairness, responsibility, and
professionalism. By choosing to join the UNLV community, students accept the expectations of the
Student Academic Misconduct Policy, and are encouraged to always take the ethical path whenever
faced with choices. Students enrolling at UNLV assume the obligation to conduct themselves in a
manner compatible with UNLV’s educational mission. An example of academic misconduct is
plagiarism. Plagiarism is using the words or ideas of another person, from the Internet or any other
source without proper citation of the source(s). See the Student Conduct Code.
Auditing a Course
Auditing a course allows a student to continue attending the lectures and/or laboratories and
discussion sessions associated with the course, but the student will not earn a grade for any
component of the course. Students who audit a course receive the same educational experience as
students taking the course for a grade, but will be excused from exams, assessments, and other
evaluative measures that serve the primary purpose of assigning a grade.

Classroom Conduct
Students have a responsibility to conduct themselves in class and in the libraries in ways that do not
interfere with the rights of other students to learn, or of instructors to teach. Use of devices such as
cellular phones and pagers, or other potentially disruptive activities are only permitted with the prior
explicit consent of the instructor. Students are specifically prohibited to record classes without
instructor authorization, including online/remote classes (either audio only, or video and audio). The
instructor may rescind permission at any time during the class. If a student does not comply with
established requirements or obstructs the functioning of the class, the instructor may initiate an
administrative withdrawal of the student from the course.

Since the COVID-19 pandemic forced some instruction to be delivered remotely starting in Spring
2020, numerous students have asked instructors to record their synchronous classes, so that they can
access them at their convenience. Instructors who agree to record their classes (audio only, or video
and audio) should inform students in advance. Recorded lectures may not be broadly released to
anyone, but made available exclusively to those students enrolled in the class during the particular
academic term. Recorded lectures must be stored securely, and are subject to the Nevada System of
Higher Education’s Records Retention Policy, meaning that the recordings can only be deleted 120
days after the end of class (i.e., after grades are posted). Once this requirement is met, the
recordings should be deleted. Class recordings are protected from disclosure, as they are deemed
part of an educational record under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA).

Copyright
The University requires all members of the University Community to familiarize themselves with,
and to follow copyright and fair use requirements. You are individually and solely responsible for
violations of copyright and fair use laws. The University will neither protect nor defend you, nor
assume any responsibility for student or employee violations of fair use laws. Violations of
copyright laws could subject you to federal and state civil penalties and criminal liability, as well as
disciplinary action under University policies. Additional copyright policy information is available.

Disability Resource Center (DRC)

The UNLV Disability Resource Center (Student Services Complex, SSC-A, Room 143, telephone
702-895-0866) provides resources for students with disabilities. Students who believe that they may
need academic accommodations due to a permanent disability, temporary or permanent medical
need, or academic support due to pregnancy are encouraged to contact the DRC as early as possible
in the academic term. A Disabilities Specialist will discuss what options may be available to you.
Students who are already registered with the DRC should request their accommodations online each
semester, and make an appointment to discuss their accommodations with their instructors.

Final Examinations
The University requires that final exams given at the end of a course occur on the date and at the
time specified in the Final Exam schedule. The Final Exam schedule is typically available at the
start of the semester, and the classroom locations are available approximately one month before the
end of the semester. See the Final Exam Schedule.

Identity Verification in Online Courses

All UNLV students must use their Campus-issued ACE ID and password to log in to WebCampus-
Canvas.

UNLV students enrolled in online or hybrid courses are expected to read and adhere to the Student
Academic Misconduct Policy, which states that “acting or attempting to act as a substitute for
another, or using or attempting to use a substitute, in any academic evaluation or assignment” is a
form of academic misconduct. Intentionally sharing ACE login credentials with another person may
be considered an attempt to use a substitute, and could result in investigation and sanctions, as
outlined in the Student Academic Misconduct Policy.

UNLV students enrolled in online courses are also expected to read and adhere to the Acceptable Use
of Computing and Information Technology Resources Policy, which prohibits sharing university
accounts with other persons without authorization.

To the greatest extent possible, all graded assignments and assessments in UNLV online courses
should be hosted in WebCampus-Canvas or another UNLV-managed platform that requires ACE
login credentials for access.

Incomplete Grades
The grade of “I” (Incomplete) may be granted when a student has satisfactorily completed three-
fourths of course work for that semester/session, but cannot complete the last part of the course for
reason(s) beyond the student’s control and acceptable to the instructor, and the instructor believes
that the student can finish the course without repeating it. For undergraduate courses, the incomplete
work must be made up before the end of the following regular semester. Graduate students
receiving “I” grades in 500-, 600-, or 700-level courses have up to one calendar year to complete the
work, at the discretion of the instructor. If course requirements are not completed within the period
indicated, a grade of “F” will be recorded, and the student’s GPA will be adjusted accordingly.
Students who are fulfilling an Incomplete grade do not register for the course, but make individual
arrangements with the instructor who assigned the “I” grade.

Library Resources
Librarians are available to consult with students on research needs, including developing research
topics, finding information, and evaluating sources. To make an appointment with a subject expert
for this class, please visit the Libraries’ Research Consultation website. You can also ask the library
staff questions via chat and text message.

Missed Classwork
Any student missing class, quizzes, examinations, or any other class or laboratory work because of
observance of religious holidays will be given an opportunity during that semester to make up the
missed work. The make-up opportunity will apply to the religious holiday absence only. It is the
responsibility of the student to notify the instructor within the first 14 calendar days of the course for
Fall and Spring courses (except for modular courses), or within the first 7 calendar days of the course
for Summer and modular courses, of their intention to participate in religious holidays which do not
fall on state holidays or periods of class recess. For additional information, please visit the Missed
Classwork policy, under Registration Policies, on the Academic Policies webpage.

In accordance with the policy approved by the Faculty Senate regarding missed class time and
assignments, students who represent UNLV in any official extracurricular activity will also have the
opportunity to make up assignments, provided that the student submits official written notification to
the instructor no less than one week prior to the missed class(es).

The spirit and intent of the policy for missed classwork is to offer fair and equitable assessment
opportunities to all students, including those representing the University in extracurricular activities.
Instructors should consider, for example, that in courses which offer a “Drop one” option for the
lowest assignment, quiz, or exam, assigning the student a grade of zero for an excused absence for
extracurricular activity is both contrary to the intent of the Faculty Senate’s policy, and an
infringement on the student’s right to complete all work for the course.

This policy will not apply in the event that completing the assignment or administering the
examination at an alternate time would impose an undue hardship on the instructor or the University
that could be reasonably avoided. There should be a good faith effort by both the instructor and the
student to agree to a reasonable resolution. When disagreements regarding this policy arise, decisions
can be appealed to the Department Chair/School Director, College/School Dean, and/or the Faculty
Senate Academic Standards Committee.

For purposes of definition, extracurricular activities may include, but are not limited to academic
recruitment activities, competitive intercollegiate athletics, fine arts activities, liberal arts
competitions, science and engineering competitions, and any other event or activity sanctioned by a
College/School Dean, and/or by the Executive Vice President and Provost.

Rebelmail
Rebelmail is UNLV’s official email system for students and by University policy, instructors and
staff should only send emails to students’ Rebelmail accounts. Rebelmail is one of the primary
ways in which students receive official University communications, information about deadlines,
major Campus events, and announcements. All UNLV students receive a Rebelmail account after
they have been admitted to the University. Sending emails within WebCampus-Canvas is also
acceptable.

Tutoring and Coaching

The Academic Success Center (ASC), at the Claude I. Howard Building, provides tutoring,
academic success coaching, and other academic assistance for all UNLV undergraduate students.
For information regarding tutoring subjects, tutoring times, and other ASC programs and services,
please visit the ASC website, or call 702-895-3177. The ASC is located across from the Student
Services Complex (SSC). Academic success coaching is located on the second floor of SSC A,
Room 254. Drop-in tutoring is located on the second floor of the Lied Library, and on the second
floor of the College of Engineering building (TBE A 207).

UNLV Writing Center

One-on-one or small group assistance with writing is available free of charge to UNLV students at
the Writing Center, located in the Central Desert Complex, Building 3, Room 301 (CDC 3–301).
Walk-in consultations are sometimes available, but students with appointments receive priority
assistance. Students may make appointments in person or by calling the Center, telephone 702-895-
3908. Students are requested to bring to their appointments their Rebel ID Card, a copy of the
instructions for their assignment, and two copies of any writing they have completed on their
assignment.

Diversity Statement
As an institution of higher learning, UNLV represents a rich diversity of human beings among its
faculty, staff, and students, and is committed to aspiring to maintain a Campus environment that
values that diversity. Accordingly, the University supports understanding and appreciation of all
members of its community, regardless of race, sex, age, color, national origin, ethnicity, creed,
religion, disability, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, marital status, pregnancy, genetic
information, veteran status, or political affiliation. Please see University Statements and Compliance.

A successful learning experience requires mutual respect and trust between the students and the
instructor. Accordingly, the instructor asks that students be willing to listen to one another’s points of
view, acknowledging that there may be disagreements, keep discussion and comments on topic, and
use first person, positive language when expressing their perspectives.