(i) Required courses are:
Introduction to Psychology (10)
Psychological Statistics (91) or equivalent
Physiological Psychology (111) or equivalent
Introductory Biology (43 and 44) or equivalent
Physiology (131 or 142) or equivalent
Basic Principles of Chemistry (14 and 15) or equivalent
Organic Chemistry (116 and 117) or equivalent
Senior Thesis (Natural Science 189 and/or 190)
Either Research Methods (Scripps 104) or Experimental Psychology (Pitzer 104) or equivalent.
(ii) In addition to the above required courses, Psychobiology concentrators must also take two middle- or advanced-level psychology courses, at least one of which is from the Psychology concentration group (ii) (see Psychology concentration), and two advanced biology courses selected from the following topics: endocrinology, genetics, animal behavior, cell biology, and neurobiology (126, 143, 157, 177). Premedical students are also required to take General Physics (30 and 31, or 33 and 34) and Calculus (Mathematics 30). These courses are strongly recommended for other Psychobiology concentrators as well.
(iii) During the senior year, each Psychobiology concentrator undertakes an original research project with the guidance of a thesis advisor and a second reader chosen from the Psychobiology faculty. Normally, this is a two- semester experimental thesis. Course credit is given for thesis work: the first- semester grade is based on an oral presentation given to Psychobiology faculty members and students and on a written review of the relevant literature as well as an outline of the proposed experiments; the second-semester grade is based on the final write-up and an oral presentation of the results. The Psychobiology faculty may, on occasion, approve a one-semester thesis for concentrators who have taken advanced physiological psychology or a seminar in physiological psychology.
1. Introductory Psychobiology. Not offered in 1995-96.
101. Brain and Behavior. This course provides a basic introduction to the biological bases of human and animal behavior. Topics include: how environmental information is detected, transduced, and processed by the central nervous system; the physiological bases of learning and memory, emotions, drugs, and consciousness. Prerequisite: Psychology 10. Fall, A. Jones.
111. Physiological Psychology. This course is designed to provide students with a sophisticated understanding of neuranatomy and neurophysiology and their relationship with behavioral function. We will also be addressing such issues as the organization and activation of mammalian sexual behavior, sleep regulation, nutrition, and auditory processing. Prerequisite: Psychology 101. Enrollment limited to 20. Spring, A. Jones.
127. Gender and Sexuality: Biological and Sociocultural Perspectives. An examination of major historical and contemporary Western and Eastern biological and sociocultural explanatory models for understanding gender identify and sexual orientation. Some emphasis will be made in the analysis of unacknowledged moral dictums in the individual and the social order which are of particular relevance to notions of gender and sexuality. Prerequisite: WS ID 26 and Psychology 10. Fall, A. Jones.
128. Neural and Behavioral Development. This course will explore, through lecture materials and relevant readings, the basic principles of mammalian (emphasis on human) central Nervous System development. We will also examine the relationship between developmental events in the CNS and human behavioral development, in an attempt to uncover causal connections between brain changes and behavioral/perceptual/cognitive changes. Using a chronological approach, we will trace neural and behavioral ontogeny and interaction from conception through adulthood. Prerequisites: Brain & Behavior and Child Development or permission of instructor. Enrollment limited to 20. Spring, A. Jones/D. Moore.
148. Neuropharmacology and Behavior. This upper-division course will begin with a review of basic pharmacological principles, including such topics as the determinants of effective drug concentration at a receptor site; routes of administration, absorption, lipid solubility, catabolism, and the Blood-Brain Barrier. We will also discuss fast and slow transduction mechanisms with emphasis on second messengers. Finally, this course will review what is known about the neurochemical bases of disorders such as schizophrenia, depression, mania, and autism. Prerequisite: Psychology 101. Spring, A. Jones.
Psychobiology faculty: Psychology--A. Jones.
Biology--N. Copp, M. Mathies, D. Sadava.