Course:

Amines and Affect
Psych 16N, 3 credits, Rm. 419, Bldg. 420 (Jordan)
M 3:15-6:05 PM, 04/06/09-06/01/09

Instructor:

Brian Knutson, Ph.D.
Phone: 650.724.2965
Email: knutson@psych.stanford.edu
Office Hours: W 1:00-3:00 PM

Description:

This course aims to explore the intersection between neurochemistry and emotion by blending metaphorical, historical, and scientific approaches. Students should come away with conceptual tools for thinking about how neural mechanisms could support emotional experience and for evaluating relevant research. Readings will be primarily drawn from primary historical sources and current research articles. Course requirements include attendance, notes on and discussion of assigned readings, a quiz, and a project proposal.

Text:

Cooper. J. R., Bloom, F. E., Roth, R. H. (2003). The Biochemical Basis of Neuropharmacology. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
(questions)


Schedule:

Date Topic Readings
04/06/09 Interdisciplinary Collision Wolfe, Boeree, Wikipedia / Wundt, Boring, Watson
04/13/09 Neurotransmitters, Damage, and Drugs ASKOF Ch 6, ASKOF Appendix / CBR Ch 2, CBR Ch 4
04/20/09 Norepinephrine Brodie & Shore, Berridge & Waterhouse, CBR Ch 8
04/27/09 Dopamine Carlson, Knutson & Gibbs, CBR Ch 9
05/04/09 Serotonin Jacobs & Azmitia, CBR Ch 10
05/11/09 Quiz / (R)evolution Chatterjee, Farah, Cerullo, Hyman
05/18/09 Hedonic Engineering or Extinction? Zacny et al., Martinez et al. / Knutson et al., Moskowitz et al., Tse & Bond
05/25/09 Labor Day N/A
06/01/09 Presentations N/A

Assignments:

Participation 20%
Notes 20%
Quiz 20%
Proposal 40%

 


Grading:

  • Participation: Includes attendance and discussion. This counts for 20% towards the final grade. The goal is for all of us to learn from each other about the discussion topic.

  • Notes: Each class, you'll submit one to two paragraphs summarizing the reading(s) for that week followed by a paragraph with comments and at least two questions concerning the reading(s). Notes will be collected the midnight before each class and will count 20% towards the final grade. Questions from the notes will be used during class as a basis for participation.

  • Proposal: Experimental proposals should be brief (e.g., 5-15 pages in length) and written in APA style (particularly the bibliography). Proposals can apply to any topic relevant to amines and affect and should include the elements of a journal article, including Introduction, Methods, Results (projected), and Discussion. You should first turn in a one-page outline of the experimental proposal on 04/22/09, on which I will provide feedback. The outline counts for 10% of the final grade. Then, you should turn in the final proposal on 06/03/09 to my mailbox in the Psychology Department by noon. In addition, you will have 15 minutes on the last day of class to present your proposal to the rest of the class. For this format, a 10 minute presentation (i.e., approximately 10 powerpoint slides) with 5 minutes for discussion is recommended. The proposal and presentation count for 30% of the final grade (summing to a total of 40%). The goal of this assignment is to introduce you to the process of academic writing, editing, and presentation.

  • Deadlines: If you have to turn in the proposal late, you should tell me in advance. 5% will be deducted from your notes or proposal grade for each day the proposal is late.


    • (last updated 04/01/09; http://www-psych.stanford.edu/~knutson/aaa/aaasyll.html)