TBA. Credit, three hours. This course presents an introduction to evolutionary processes and biological bases of behavior. Examples drawn especially from humans and nonhuman primates will be used to place human behavior in the context of other species and to illustrate the dual inheritance of biology and culture in our species.
Spring. Credit, three hours. Students will learn basic principles of neuronal function, as well as how evolution has produced specializations in neural circuits in various invertebrate and vertebrate animals that allow them to do unique things in the natural world. Such comparative approaches not only help students understand how studies of neural specializations across species underlie behavioral diversity in the world around us, but also how to extrapolate generalities about how nervous systems organize behavior by identifying common operating principles in those mechanisms.
Fall. Credit, five hours. Prerequisite: Psychology 110 or Biology 141 or Neuroscience and Behavioral Science 202 or Psychology 202 or equivalent transfer credit as prerequisite. A course focused on the relationships between hormones, brain function, and behavior, as well as the techniques used to investigate them.Course has both lecture and lab. Cross-listed with Psychology 304.
TBA. Credit, three to four hours. A mentored research experience with a faculty member doing research in any area of neuroscience and behavioral biology. Students are expected to work with the faculty to develop the project, learn all techniques necessary to perform experiments related to the project, run the experiments and collect and analyze the data. Enrollment will require permission of the instructor who will serve as a mentor.
