BCS 246: Syllabus

Spring 2012

Time & Location

Tuesdays & Thursdays, 9:40AM-10:55AM, Morey 321

Personnel

Professor Renee Miller, Ph.D
Office: Meliora 106
Telephone: 276-4024
Office Hours: Mon 1-3pm and by appt.
e-mail:

Professor John Langfitt
Office: Meliora 418
Telephone: 275-9495
Office Hours: Th 11:00AM-12PM
e-mail:

Kelli Fagan (Teaching Assistant)
Telephone: 275-7915
Office Hours: by appt.
e-mail:

Course Intent

The objective of this course is to present current understanding of biologic mechanisms involved in the etiology and pathology of various brain disorders, including both those disorders generally classified as "mental disorders" and disorders generally classified as "neurologic disorders." Basic concepts of neurobiology will be presented along with discussion of the clinical presentation and management of the various disorders. The material to be presented is broad. In addition to the required books, we will select readings from a variety of other sources.

Course Structure

The first 6 lectures introduce the student to basic principles of the phenomenology of neuropsychiatric disorders, general neurobiological mechanisms whose dysfunction is thought to mediate diseases and general principles of how treatments are developed to mitigate this dysfunction. The remainder of the course is devoted to describing the clinical phenomenology of a wide range of disorders and current evidence regarding underlying neurobiological mechanisms and specific approaches to treatment.

Reading Assignments

Reading Assignments: Andreasen, Nancy C. Brave New Brain: Conquering Mental Illness in the Era of the Genome, Oxford University Press, 2004 (paperback). This book provides clear case descriptions of various mental illnesses and also places these illnesses in the context of biologic disorders. REQUIRED

All other readings will be placed on electronic reserve on Blackboard. These readings are REQUIRED. In particular we have assigned several chapters from the third edition (2009) of Neurobiology of Mental Illness, D.S. Charney an E.J. Nestler, Eds.

Course Evaluation

One take-home problem set and 3 in-class exams will be given. The take- home problem set will be handed out after class on February 2 and is due at the beginning of class on February 9. Any exam received after the beginning of class on February 9 will be assessed a 5-point penalty for each 24 hour period that it is late.

Exam Schedule: Examinations are re-scheduled only in the event of documented illness, personal or family emergency, other extraordinary circumstances, or a conflict with religious or scheduled University commitment that prevents the student from being present. Schedule conflicts must be discussed with the instructor or TA at least one week prior to the scheduled exam. FINAL EXAM - Thursday, May 10, at 4PM in Morey 321. This will NOT be re-scheduled to accommodate early departure for vacation.

Final Grades: Course letter grades will be assigned based on the average of the scores of the problem set and the three in-class exams. The final average is not rounded up. Grades represent a threshold of performance which is either exceeded, or it is not. Cut-offs for letter grades and sub-levels are as follows: A ≥ 90, B ≥80, etc.; + ≥ 7, - < 3. Thus, a final average of 92.99 is an A minus, an 87.01 is a B+, etc.

Upward adjustment (from one grade sub-level to the next - B+ to A-, B to B+, etc.) may be made at the discretion of the instructors for students who participate actively and constructively in class and/or office hours and/or show evidence of steady improvement over the semester (i.e., improvement from one full letter grade to another). Due to the size of the class, there will be no term paper or "extra credit" projects.

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