Psychology

Units: 4 CRN: 59545

Prerequisites: Psychology 1, Psychology 41, Pscyhology 101, or consent of the instructor.

Course Format: 1. Two, 2-hour lectures per week (slide lecture format). 2. Exams: Three (each 33% of the final grade) comprising a choice of either multiple choice or essay exams. 3. Grading: Based on a cumulative total score generated from numerically scored exams. Final grade for the three exams will not include pluses and minuses. 4. Holidays: Mon. Jan. 15; Mon. Feb. 19.

Course Topics:

Part I: Historical aspects of Learning Research 1. Review of classical conditioning, instrumental learning, imprinting. 2. Cognitive maps, role of reinforcement in associative learning, problem solving. In-class review: Mon., Jan. 22; Midterm exam 1: Wed., Jan. 24

Part II: Constraints on Learning 1. Developmental issues -- evolutionary constraints on cognition. 2. Preparedness concepts -- sensory limitations, adaptive significance of species-specific responses, communication, and predator recognition.

In-class review: Wed., Feb. 21; Midterm exam 2: Mon. Feb. 26

Part III: Neurobiology of Learning and Memory 1. Aspects of brain evolution 2. Brain remodeling during development and experience. 3. Physiological correlates of learning. In-class review: Wed., March 14 (last day of course instruction) Final exam (Part III only): Wed., Mar. 21, 4:00-6:00pm

Textbook: None required. Daily lectures (Classical notes) and three readers are available at Classical Notes in the Memorial Union. Request Lecture Notes (one packet) and Readers I,II,III (separate packets for each course section)

Instructor: Dr. Richard Coss Time: M W 4:10-6:00pm 105 Young Hall Room: 194 Young 752-1626 Office hours: M on., Wed. 2:10-3:30pm E-mail: rgcoss@ucdavis.edu

TA: Alexali Brubaker Office hours: M W 10:30am-12:00 noon E-mail: asbrubaker@gmail.com