Teaching
PSYC272, Circuits for control: the basal ganglia in action and cognition
Graduate Seminar
Winter 2012
Days/Time: Mondays 2 to 5pm
Location: McGill Hall Room 5326
This graduate seminar focuses on the basal ganglia: the key device for switching and selection of motor, cognitive and affective processing.
PSYC108, Introduction to Cognitive Neuroscience
Undergraduate Class
NEXT offered: Spring 2012
Days/Time: TueTh Time TBA
Location: TBA
This class covers basic brain anatomy and modern methods for measuring brain function in humans and non-human animals. It then examines the topics of action, attention, memory, learning, emotion, and language in terms of brain regions and networks. Classes include vignettes that helps students to consolidate what they have learned in relation to real-world issues and problems around them: drugs for ADHD; environmental toxins leading to Parkinson's disease; brain-machine prosthetic devices for people who have lost limbs, and how to lay down the best memories. Highly relevant for students minoring or majoring in psychology; pre-med students; and general science students.
PSYC193, Cognitive control and frontal lobe function
Undergraduate Class
NEXT OFFERED: Fall 2012
Days/Time: TuTh TBA
Location: TBA
This course explores a rapidly evolving topic in cognitive neuroscience; the most "human" and recently evolved region of the brain -- the frontal lobes. Students will learn how the frontal lobes enable us to engage in complex mental processes, how vulnerable they are to injury, and how devastating the effects of damage often are -- leading to chaotic and even criminal behavior. This is a small class. Students will write short papers and make presentations.