Cognitive Neuroscience

PSYC 149/BBB 249 Cognitive Neuroscience Fall 2007
Course Syllabus Page 1

Course Objectives:
For the past half century, the computer has been the dominant metaphor for the mind, prompting many cognitive
scientists to think about "software" issues independently of "hardware" issues. However, a growing number of
scientists have recognized the utility of merging the disciplines of cognitive psychology and neuroscience into a
unified field: cognitive neuroscience. The cognitive neuroscientist asks the question, "How do our brains give rise to
cognition?" The quest to answer this question, which requires a thorough understanding of both the hardware and the
software of the mind, is the focus of this course.
Although the "Decade of the Brain" (1990-1999) has come to an end, cognitive neuroscience is here to stay. Pick up
the Science Times on almost any Tuesday, and you are likely to come across headlines such as: "Certain Areas of the
Brain Size up Your Competition" (10.31.06), "A Neuron with Halle Berry’s Name on It" (07.05.05), and There’s a
Sucker Born in Every Medial Prefrontal Cortex" (10.26.03). Movies such as Memento and Eternal Sunshine of the
Spotless Mind have their origins in cognitive neuroscience. And, cognitive neuroscience research is, for better or
worse, fueling decisions made in medicine, education, public policy, and even national defense (e.g., Will brainscanners
replace metal-detectors in airports?). Cognitive neuroscience is all around you. The goal of this course is to
immerse you in the research behind the headlines, so that you can be a better consumer (and perhaps creator) of the
growing knowledge of the human brain.

Instructor: Dr. Sharon Thompson-Schill Office: 3810 Walnut Street, Room 208
Tel: (215-57) 3-3533 Office Hour: Thursday 4:30-5:30 pm
Email: thompson@psych.upenn.edu “Coffice” Hour: Monday 10:30-11:30am
Teaching Assistant: Mr. Sean Madigan Office: 3401 Walnut St, Room 328C
Tel: (215-57) 3-7570 Office Hour: Mon 1:30-2:30 pm
Email: smadigan@psych.upenn.edu
Writing Fellows: Ms. Elizabeth Smith smithel@psych.upenn.edu
Mr. Sean Madigan smadigan@psych.upenn.edu

Required Reading:
Primary text: MS Gazzaniga, RB Ivry, GR Mangun. Cognitive Neuroscience: The Biology of the Mind.
SECOND EDITION (2002)
Note. If you purchase a used copy of this book, be sure that you have the second edition,
as it is substantively different from the first edition.
For some topics, additional required reading assignments will be posted on Blackboard.
Recommended Reading:
MF Bear, BW Connors, MA Paradiso. Neuroscience: Exploring the Brain. Third edition (2007)
WH Calvin, GA Ojemann. Conversations with Neil’s Brain. (1994)
APA Publication Manual. Fifth Edition (2001)
RJ Sternberg. The Psychologist’s Companion. Fourth Edition (2003)
Blackboard: https://coursweb.library.upenn.edu
Important information will be posted routinely on blackboard, including handouts, FAQs, exam answer
keys, upcoming events, grades, links to useful resources, etc. All announcements posted on Blackboard are
important and we will assume you have read them. If you have suggestions for the web page, please let us
know.
PSYC 149/BBB 249 Cognitive Neuroscience Fall 2007

Course Syllabus Page 2
Grading Policies:
Make-up policy: There are three midterm exams, and you must take at least two of them. With the
exception of an authorized university absence (e.g., sporting event; religious
holiday), exams will not be rescheduled. If you miss an exam, that will
automatically be the grade that is dropped when calculating your final grade for the
course (see Exams).
Late policy: Papers must be turned in by the beginning of class (i.e., 1:30) on the day they are
due. Any assignment received after this time will automatically receive a full letter
grade deduction. Any assignment received more than 48 hours after this time will
not be graded. There are no exceptions to this policy. You have been forewarned!
Re-grading: If you have a question or concern that there was an error in grading any of your
work, you must submit your request in writing to have the work regraded, no more
than one week after work was returned in class. No requests will be considered
beyond this date. If you submit a request, your work will be regraded in entirety,
and the final grade could be higher or lower than your original grade.
Writing Intensive: You have the option of enrolling in the writing-intensive (WI) version of this
course (the program formerly known as WATU); additional WI-requirements are
noted in the syllabus. You must elect the WI option no later than 9/20 by
completing the attached form. If you successfully complete the WI requirements for
the course, the designation “Writing Intensive Course” will appear on your
transcript and, depending on your graduation year, your writing requirement may
be partially fulfilled.
Plagiarism: Be sure you understand the University’s guidelines on Academic Integrity before
submitting any assignment. See me or someone from the Office of Student Conduct
(http://www.upenn.edu/osc) if you have any questions, especially about plagiarism
(what it is and how it can be avoided).
Final grade: Your final grade will be a weighted sum of the following items:
Midterm Exams (best 2 of 3) 60%
Short Papers (2) 10%
Final Exam or Term Paper 30%
An opportunity for extra credit is described under “Short Papers” later in the
syllabus.
PSYC 149/BBB 249 Cognitive Neuroscience Fall 2007
Course Syllabus Page 3
Schedule at a Glance
Week
Recitation
Topic
(Mon 7pm)
Lecture
Date
Lecture
Topic
Important Deadlines
(WI deadlines in italics)
1
Sep 6
Introduction [1]
2 Neuron Review
Part 1 [2]
Sep 11
Sep 13
Neuroanatomy and
Neuropathology [3, 4]
3
Neuroanatomy
Lab [3]
in Stem 102C
Sep 18
Sep 20
Methods [4]
Perception [5]
R: WI enrollment deadline
4 Neuron Review
Part 2 [2]
Sep 25
Sep 27 Visual systems [5, 6]
5 Review Session
for Exam 1
Oct 2
Oct 4
** Exam 1 **
Object Recognition [6]
6 Journal Club 1 Oct 9
Oct 11
Face Recognition [6]
Attention [7]
T: WI topic due
R: Short Paper due
7 Fall Break Oct 16
Oct 18
No class – Fall Break
Attention [7]
R: Short Paper due
8 Education/Career
Discussion
Oct 23
Oct 25 Memory [8]
R: Short Paper due
9 Review Session
for Exam 2
Oct 30
Nov1
** Exam 2 **
Cognitive Control [12]
10 Research and
Writing Tips
Nov 6
Nov 8
Cognitive Control [12]
Emotions [13]
T: WI reading list due
R: Short Paper due
11 Journal Club 2 Nov 13
Nov 15
Social Cognition [s1]
Language [9]
R: Short Paper due
12 TBA Nov 20
Nov 22
Language [s2]
No class - Thanksgiving
T: WI draft due
13 Journal Club 3 Nov 27
Nov 29 Development/Plasticity [15]
R: Short Paper due
14 Review Session
for Exam 3
Dec 4
Dec 6
** Exam 3 **
Recap
Add deadline: 21 Sept ✽ Drop deadline: 12 Oct ✽ Withdraw deadline: 16 Nov ✽ Final exam 19 Dec
PSYC 149/BBB 249 Cognitive Neuroscience Fall 2007
Course Syllabus Page 4
Exams
The purpose of the Midterm and Final Exams is to assess basic factual knowledge of topics covered in
lectures and readings, to review critical concepts and theories that are important in the field of
Cognitive Neuroscience, and to challenge you to think deeply about ideas presented in class. In
addition, the Final Exam will also require you to synthesize information across diverse areas and
perhaps think about topics in novel ways.
There are three midterm exams scheduled during the semester. Each of these exams will be administered
during the regular class time, and should last approximately 60 minutes (although you will be allowed to
use the entire class time). The location of the exams will be announced in advance; be sure to check the
Blackboard site to be certain that you arrive in the correct location for the exam.
The exams are scheduled as follows:
Exam 1 Oct 2 Lectures from Sep 6 – Sep 27; Lab on Sep 17, Chapters 1-5, part of 6
Exam 2 Oct 30 Lectures from Oct 4 – Oct 25, Chapters 6-8
Exam 3 Dec 4 Lectures from Nov 1 – Nov 29, Chapters 9, 12, 13, 15, and supp. readings
Two of these exams will contribute a total of 60% towards your final grade (30% each); the third exam
score – with the lowest grade – will be dropped. If you are happy with your first two exam scores, you do
not have to take the third exam.
There are no make-up exams: With the exception of an authorized university absence, exams will not
be rescheduled. If you miss an exam, that will automatically be the exam grade (0) that is dropped
when calculating your final grade for the course.
Each exam will consist of three types of questions: (i) multiple choice questions designed to assess detailed
knowledge presented either in lecture or in readings; (ii) short answer questions designed to address basic
knowledge about topics presented both in lecture and in readings; (iii) essay questions designed to assess indepth
knowledge and to integrate information across lectures or readings. Although the essay questions will
be primarily graded based on content, clarity of expression and organization of ideas will not be ignored.
A complete sample exam (and answer key) is available from the course Blackboard site.
The final exam will be cumulative. It will last 2 hours, and will be worth 30% of your final grade. The final
exam will follow the same general format as the exams, with multiple choice, short answer, and essay
questions. The date of the final exam will be as set forth by the University. (As of this writing, the exam is
tentatively scheduled for Wednesday, December 19, from 12 – 2 pm, but you should check this. Note that
this is the last day of the exam period – make your travel plans accordingly. The exam will not be
rescheduled to accommodate travel plans.)
If you elect to complete the Writing Intensive component of the course, you do not take the final exam.
PSYC 149/BBB 249 Cognitive Neuroscience Fall 2007
Course Syllabus Page 5
Short Papers
The purpose of the Short Papers is to gain experience reading and critically evaluating research
articles in the field of cognitive neuroscience.
Finding sources: For each Short Paper, you must select two related journal articles that fall under the
assigned topic within the field of cognitive neuroscience. (If you aren’t sure whether the topic encompasses
your choices, check with the TA first.) A good test of whether they are related is that one probably will cite
the other one. Both papers should report new experimental findings (i.e., primary sources); you may not
choose a secondary source (i.e., a “review article” or chapter) as one of the two target articles, although you
may use such references for background material if needed. At least one of the papers must be published in
this century (i.e., 2000-2007) and neither should be older than 1990 (unless you get my permission).
Writing the paper: The Short Paper should contain the following three elements: (i) an introduction of the
problem or issue that the two articles address; (ii) for each article, a brief summary of the methods and most
significant findings, as well as any shortcomings or limitations; (iii) an integration of the two findings. Be
sure to explain the relation of the findings to each other (does one finding elaborate or build on a prediction
of another; are the findings in disagreement, and if so, which is more convincing; if different methodologies
are used, what unique contributions are made to the question by each?) as well as to the problem they
address. Sample Short Papers are available to download from the course Blackboard site.
The Short Paper may not exceed 1000 words (about 3-4 double-spaced pages). Note the total word count
somewhere on your paper. Put your name on a separate cover sheet but not on the other pages of the paper
(so you are anonymous when we are grading). Along with your paper, you must submit a copy of each
article you are reviewing. Your paper may include additional references (it is a good idea!) but you should
attach only the two articles that are the focus of your paper.
Submitting the paper: You will have six opportunities to submit a Short Paper. You are only required to
submit two of these assignments: you must submit one Short Paper from Group A and one Short paper
from Group B (see lists below). Each Short Paper will be worth 5% of your final grade. In addition, you
have the option of submitting one additional Short Paper to earn extra credit; 5% of the score on this
paper will be added to your cumulative score in the class. (In other words, an A on an extra Short Paper is
the equivalent of about 15 points on an exam!) The extra Short Paper can be from either Group A or B.
The topics and due dates (by the beginning of class) for the Short Papers are as follows:
Group A: Group B:
Object/Face Recognition Oct 11 Cognitive Control Nov 8
Attention/Neglect Oct 18 Emotional/Social Cognition Nov 15
Memory Oct 25 Language Nov 29
Checklist for Short Paper submission:
1. Do you have two related, recently-published, empirical articles about the assigned topic?
2. Have you included a full APA-style citation for each article and a copy of each article?
3. Have you included all three elements of the assignment, described above (see sample papers)?
4. Is your name on a separate cover sheet only?
5. Is your word count (≤ 1000 words) noted somewhere in the paper (e.g., on the cover sheet)?
PSYC 149/BBB 249 Cognitive Neuroscience Fall 2007
Course Syllabus Page 6
Term Paper (Writing Intensive students only)
The purpose of the Term Paper is to gain in-depth knowledge about a particular subject area in the
field of cognitive neuroscience and to develop your writing skills in organizing and synthesizing a
large body of research, critically evaluating empirical and theoretical arguments, and expressing
scientific ideas clearly.
You have the option of submitting a term paper instead of taking the final exam by enrolling in the Writing
Intensive (WI) course option. You must inform us of your intention to do so by September 20. After this
date, you do not have the WI option. However, if you sign up for the WI option and change your mind or fail
to meet the WI requirements (see final page), you always retain the option of taking the final exam.
For your Term Paper, you must select some topic in the field of cognitive neuroscience that is of interest
to you, and for which there is a sufficient literature to digest for your paper. You should read a number of
secondary and primary references about this topic. Your paper should include a clear explanation of the
problem of interest and a critical analysis of the current research findings in this area. The Term Paper must
include the following components: (i) The paper must begin with an abstract that summarizes your research
in no more than 200 words. (ii) The text of the paper should be around 12 pages and absolutely no longer
than 5000 words (about 20 pages). (iii) The paper must end with a complete bibliography of work cited
throughout the paper. You must include at least 10 primary references (i.e., empirical research studies), in
addition to any secondary references (i.e., review papers) that you read. You should be clear to distinguish
your ideas from ideas presented by other people, and follow APA format for citing references.
You may find it helpful to pick an area in which there is some controversy; in your paper you could present
the relevant evidence for each side of the debate and provide your evaluation of which evidence is most
compelling. The following are examples of topics, but this is by no means an exhaustive list: (i) Are faces a
special class of objects? (ii) Is semantic knowledge organized according to category or modality? (iii) What
neural events during sleep impact long-term memory consolidation? (iv) Is there a specialized neural
system that supports human “theory of mind”? (v) Does emotion perception require “simulation” of
sensory experiences? (vi) What, if any, is the function of the right hemisphere in language processing? You
may also choose to expand one of your Short Papers into a longer, more in-depth analysis of a topic.
There is a series of assignments related to the term paper that you must complete:
Oct 9 Topic due: Brief summary (approx. 200 words) of proposed paper topic, including at
least 2 relevant citations (with brief descriptions of each). You will get advice on how to
proceed, what references to start with, and other suggestions. (5% of term paper grade)
Nov 6 Annotated reading list due: List of 10 references with 1-2 sentence description of main
point of each article. Prior to this date, you must meet with your writing advisor to
review your plans and progress. At this stage, you will get feedback on areas you may
have overlooked. (10%)
Nov 20 Term paper draft due: A complete draft of your term paper, including abstract and
reference list. Review the late policy carefully, and make sure you have enough toner in
your printer, a back-up copy of your document, no vacation plans for that week, etc. etc.
well in advance of this deadline! You will get feedback on how to improve your paper.
After this date you must schedule a writing conference to discuss your paper. (45%)
Dec 17 (4 pm) Revision of term paper due: You should respond to suggestions for improvements to
your first draft and incorporate additional research as advised. (40%)
PSYC 149/BBB 249 Cognitive Neuroscience Fall 2007
Course Syllabus Page 7
Learning Outside the Classroom
There will be a number of opportunities to participate in events outside of class where you can see real, live
cognitive neuroscience in action. These events will be posted on the Blackboard Calendar and in some
instances will be announced in class or by email. These include:
 Patient case conferences. Join a team of neurologists (and medical students and residents) for a
discussion of fascinating, recent cases of patients with cognitive deficits following stroke or
other neurological disorders. Case conferences take place at the hospital once a month (8 am on
Wednesday mornings) and require my permission to attend, due to space constraints. In past
years, students have found these to be both interesting and informative; if you are interested,
email me as early as possible to sign up.
 Colloquia/Seminar on topics relating to cognitive neuroscience. A number of groups on
campus hold weekly or biweekly talks that may be related to topics we are discussing in class.
Typically, these talks are given by leaders in the field of cognitive neuroscience. Attending a talk
gives you an opportunity to hear the details of experiments that are only briefly described in your
textbook or in lecture and to learn what is happening on the cutting edge of the field. Talks of
interest may be held at:
Center for Cognitive Neuroscience (CCN) – monthly Mon 12:00
Institute for Research in Cognitive Science (IRCS) – weekly Fri 12:00
Institute for Neurological Sciences (INS) – weekly Wed 4:00
Brain and Language Group – monthly Wed 3:00
 Research participation. The Center for Cognitive Neuroscience has ongoing research projects,
ranging from cognitive testing to fMRI scans. We are routinely looking for participants for these
studies: http://www.experimetrix.com/ccn Additional research participation
opportunities will be posted on Blackboard, along with information and eligibility requirements.
(Certain studies have exclusionary conditions that may not permit all students to participate.)
You are strongly encouraged to take advantage of as many of these opportunities as possible to extend your
learning outside the classroom. To give you even more encouragement, you can write a summary of the
event you attended. A Learning Outside the Classroom report can be substituted for any one of the Short
Papers. Events that qualify for this assignment will be noted on the course web page. If the event is not
listed on the Calendar, you must get approval before writing the paper. If you have questions about what
information to include in this report, please see me prior to submitting it. Samples are posted on
Blackboard.
The due dates and length restrictions are the same as noted for the Short Papers. Please note that you
cannot submit two papers (i.e., one Short Paper and one Learning Outside the Classroom report) on the
same day. Plan ahead.
You can only substitute a Learning Outside the Classroom report one time during the semester, although
you may participate in the above events as many times as you would like.
WI students: You must submit two Short Papers. You can submit an LOTC report for a third (extra-credit)
paper, but an LOTC report may not take the place of one of your two required Short Papers.
If you have any questions, please ask!
PSYC 149/BBB 249 Cognitive Neuroscience Fall 2007
Course Syllabus Page 8
Recitations
You should be enrolled for both a lecture and a recitation section of this course. Unlike the lectures, which
are required, the recitations sections are optional but highly recommended. There are several types of
activities that will occur at the recitation (dates are as noted on the schedule):
 Neuron Review. Students enroll in this course with a wide variety of backgrounds. If your
background does not include elementary concepts in neuroscience (or if you feel like you need a
refresher), the recitations on Sept 10 and Sept 24 are for you. As a guide, skim Chapter 2 prior to the
recitation – if you are uncomfortable with the terminology and concepts introduced in this chapter
(e.g., ionic equilibrium potentials, voltage gated channels, etc.), come to the recitation. Attendance
at this session is optional, although the material covered (Chapter 2) is required.
 Neuroanatomy Lab. On Sept 17, a neuroanatomy lecture and lab will be held (in Stemmler 102C).
This is material that will be covered on exams; it can all be found in the text, but all students are
strongly encouraged to attend. Human specimens will be available for inspection, but handling of
brain tissue is not required. If you are uncomfortable, please talk to us prior to the lab. This hands-on
lab requires that we split into two groups; in addition to the regular recitation time, a second session
will be scheduled for later that evening. Attendance at one of these sessions is required.
 Review Sessions. There are three scheduled review sessions, on the Monday before each exam. The
review sessions will be run by the TA and will be loosely structured in a question-answer format.
They will begin at the scheduled time of 7pm, but unlike other recitation sessions, they may
occasionally run for 2 hours. Attendance at these sessions is optional and is open to everyone.
 Journal Clubs. There will be three “journal club” sessions, during which a small group of students
will gather during the recitation session to have an in-depth discussion with the Teaching Assistant
about an empirical paper that has been briefly discussed in a recent lecture. Students must sign-up to
attend the journal club in advance, and spaces will be limited to approximately 15 students. The
article and room location will be announced in advance. The selected paper will pertain directly to
material being discussed for that course unit. Students who attend the Journal Club may use the
assigned article as one of their two required articles for the immediately following Short Paper
deadline. Attendance at these sessions is optional and is limited to the first 15 students who sign
up (by email to TA).
 Educational/Career Planning. There will be one recitation session (Oct 22) devoted to a discussion
with the Professor (and possibly a few guests) about education and career planning in fields related
to psychology and neuroscience. This is conveniently scheduled just prior to Advance Registration,
and will include a discussion of related coursework at Penn and advice on getting involved in
research here. Other topics will include: different career paths (PhD, MD, etc.), how to choose and
get accepted into the right graduate program, and other career planning issues (e.g., combining work
and family). Students must sign-up to attend this information session in advance, and spaces will be
limited to approximately 25 students. Attendance at this session is optional and is limited to the
first 25 students who sign up (by email to TA).
 Research and Writing Tips. There will be one session (Nov 5) in which we will review common
scientific writing pitfalls (based on your first round of short papers) and provide additional
assistance in searching the literature of cognitive neuroscience. Attendance at this session is
required of all WI students, but all students are strongly encouraged to attend.
PSYC 149/BBB 249 Cognitive Neuroscience Fall 2007
Course Syllabus Page 9
Writing Intensive (WI) Requirements
You have the option of enrolling in the writing-intensive (WI) version of this course (the program formerly
known as WATU); additional WI-requirements are noted in the syllabus. You must elect the WI option no
later than 9/20 by completing the attached form. If you successfully complete the WI requirements for the
course, the designation “Writing Intensive Course” will appear on your transcript and, depending on your
graduation year, your writing requirement may be partially fulfilled. (For more information about the
critical writing program at Penn (including whether the writing-intensive version of this course fulfills
certain requirements for you), visit the Writing Program’s web page at:
http://www.writing.upenn.edu/critical
Please review the WI requirements summarized on this handout, and return the attached enrollment form no
later than September 20. After this date, you do not have the WI option; if we do not hear from you, we will
assume you have elected not to complete the WI requirements. However, if you sign up for WI and change
your mind or fail to meet the WI requirements, you always retain the option of taking the final exam.
Additional WI requirements:
1. You must complete all four stages of the term paper assignment by the assigned deadline: (i) topic,
(ii) annotated reading list, (iii) draft, and (iv) revision.
2. You must have at least one individual conference with your Writing Fellow.
3. You must attend the Research and Writing Tips recitation session on Nov 5.
4. You must submit at least two Short Papers; you may still submit a Learning Outside the Classroom
report as a third paper for extra credit. (That is, you may not submit only one Short Paper and one
LOTC report.) You are strongly encouraged to write one of your Short Papers on your term paper topic.
Writing Intensive (WI) Enrollment Form
Name: (Please print legibly!)
Email:
PennID:
I have read and understood the following additional requirements for the WI component of the course:
1. I will complete all four stages of the term paper assignment by the assigned deadline: (i) topic,
(ii) annotated reading list, (iii) draft, and (iv) revision.
2. I will have at least one individual conference with the Writing Fellow.
3. I will attend the Research and Writing Tips recitation session on Nov 5.
4. I will submit at least two Short Papers. I understand that I can only submit a Learning Outside the
Classroom report for a third (extra-credit) paper, and I know that one of my two Short Papers can
relate to my term paper topic.
I understand that if I fail to complete any of the above requirements, I will be automatically withdrawn from
the WI component of the course, and I will complete the standard course requirements (e.g., Final Exam) as
described in the syllabus.
Signature:
Return this form no later than September 20.