Physiological and
Comparative Psychology

Fall 2009

Klein and Thorne, Physio text
Klein, S. B., & Thorne, J. M. (2007). Biological Psychology, New York: Worth.

Instructor: Edward Kardas
Office: Peace 109
Campus Telephone: 235-4231
E-mail: epkardas@saumag.edu
Web Page: http://peace.saumag.edu/faculty/kardas/

Updated: 2009-10-26

The course has two foci: physiological psychology and comparative psychology. These two areas are related but are also independent. You will have both to see relationships between the two areas and to discriminate between them. Early, the course treats physiological topics, then there is a shift to a study of animal behavior.Tests are primarily objective, and they count equally towards the final grade. Make up exams will be given for good cause and when notice is given beforehand. Class format is lecture with a few demonstrations, laboratories, and field exercises. Web-based aids will be available. Regular attendance is expected.


Students With Disabilities

SAU's policy is to provide educational opportunity to students with disabilities to the full extent of federal, state, and SAU's own commitment to equality of education for all. Any disabled students requiring accomodations should inform their instructor at the beginning of the course. Such students should also contact the SAU Office of Disability Support Services/Office of Counseling and Testing, located in Nelson Hall 203, or they may call that office at x 4145.


Week of:
Chapter and Text:
Topic:

8/24

1

An Introduction to Biological Psychology

8/31

Essential Animal Behavior: An Introduction

9/7

2

Exploring the Nervous System (Test 1)

9/14

3

The Development and Plasticity of the Nervous System
Human Genome Project
OMIM (Red Hair)

9/21

4

Communication Within the Nervous System (Test 2) Bombykol, Negative Feedback Loops, Hormones/Thermostat Analogy HINTS 2

9/28

6

Vision

10/5

7

Hearing, Balance, and the Cutaneous and Chemical Senses (Test 3)

10/12

8

The Neurological Control of Movement

10/19

9

Wakefulness and Sleep

10/26

10

Biology of Eating and Drinking (Test 4)

11/2 Drop Day is 11/4

Lecture

Animal Behavior: Comparative Psychology and Ethology

11/9
Lecture
Behavior and Evolution
11/16
Lecture
Genetics and Behavior
11/23
Thanksgiving Holiday
11/30
Lecture

Sociobiology and Evolutionary Psychology

12/7
Final Exams
FINAL

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