First Steps to Neuroscience, TIDE 127, Fall 2007

Day and time: T 5-6:15 Newcomb Hall 120
http://www.tulane.edu/~howard/TIDE127/

Professor Harry Howard
Newcomb Hall 322D

862-3417
Office hours: TR 12:30-1:30, W 11-12 & by appointment

This class uses the TIDES format of ten 75-minute classes to entice the student into the investigation of the brain through a general case study of a man with epilepsy, and the brain systems that are involved in his disease. It will also introduce the student to Tulane’s Neuroscience faculty by having most of the faculty lead one of the classes. The student will craft a presentation on a topic of his or her choosing at the end of the class.

Course Requirements

Code of Academic Integrity

“The integrity of Newcomb-Tulane College is based on the absolute honesty of the entire community in all academic endeavors. As part of the Tulane University community, students have certain responsibilities regarding work that forms the basis for the evaluation of their academic achievement. Students are expected to be familiar with these responsibilities at all times. No member of the university community should tolerate any form of academic dishonesty, because the scholarly community of the university depends on the willingness of both instructors and students to uphold the Code of Academic Conduct. When a violation of the Code of Academic Conduct is observed it is the duty of every member of the academic community who has evidence of the violation to take action. Students should take steps to uphold the code by reporting any suspected offense to the instructor or the associate dean of the college. Students should under no circumstances tolerate any form of academic dishonesty.” For further information, point your browser at http://college.tulane.edu/honorcode.htm.

Violations of the Academic Honor Code will not be tolerated in this class. I will rigorously investigate and pursue any such transgression.

Students with disabilities who need academic accommodation should:

Tulane’s Neuroscience program

http://neuro.tulane.edu/

Fall 2007 Schedule

Text: William H. Calvin & George A. Ojemann (1994) Conversations with Neil’s Brain
Any additional journal text will be posted to Blackboard for downloading.

Day 1 (Sept 4): Introduction to the class and to the brain systems implicated in readings

Day 2 (Sept 11): A window on the brain & Losing consciousness, pp. 1-37

Day 3 (Sept 25): Seeing the brain speak & If language is left, what is right?, pp. 39-58

Day 4 (Oct 2): The problems with paying attention & The personality of the lowly neuron, pp. 89-108

Day 5 (Oct 9): The what and where of memory & How are memories made?, pp. 108-136

Day 6 (Oct 16): What’s up front & When things go wrong with thought and mood, pp. 137-170

Day 7 (Oct 23): Tuning up the brain by pruning & Acquiring and reacquiring language, pp. 171-202

*** Presentation ideas due ***

Day 8 (Oct 30): Taking apart the visual image, How the brain subdivides language & Why can we read so well?, pp. 203-242

visit to hospital

Day 9 (Oct 6): Stringing things together in novel ways, Deep in the temporal lobe & In search of the narrator, pp. 243-end

invite one author to talk

Day 10 (Nov 13): Presentations


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Last revision: November 6, 2007. HH