Introduction to Cognitive Neuroscience – Spring 2022

NEUROSCI 212, PSY 257

Lectures: TuTh 8:30-9:45 am
Sections: Tue 10:15-11:05, 12:00-12:50 & Wed 8:30-9:20, 10:15-11:05
Professor Tobias Overath (t.overath@duke.edu)
Matthew Slayton (TA, matthew.slayton@duke.edu), Candice Wang (TA, yuxi.wang@duke.edu)

Lecture and Sections Zoom links available on the Sakai site

Zoom Lecture: https://duke.zoom.us/j/95243000322?pwd=ZjhXSWt3M1BJUnhLZm5jY0NkMS92dz09
Zoom Lecture Passcode: 220420
Section Zoom links:
TU 10:15 AM: https://duke.zoom.us/my/matthewslayton

TU 12:00 PM: https://duke.zoom.us/my/matthewslayton

WE 8:30 AM: https://duke.zoom.us/j/92248434232?pwd=b2VYMVlPdE9KWjE4azFjN3hBSjBYZz09

Meeting ID: 922 4843 4232; Passcode: 896006

WE 10:15 AM: https://duke.zoom.us/j/95770569279?pwd=UFZXSFAyd3doZHhCaS9ETnpLRHQ3QT09

Meeting ID: 957 7056 9279; Passcode: 471209

This class introduces you to the fascinating world of cognitive neuroscience! The main aim of the class is to give you
a thorough introduction to the neural underpinnings of fundamental aspects of cognition, such as perception, attention,
memory, language, emotion, or decision making.
This semester, the class is taught at least partly online via Zoom. Each online lecture and discussion section is
accessible live via a link posted on Sakai.
Textbook: Principles of Cognitive Neuroscience , by Dale Purves et al. 2nd edition (2012, Sinauer),
https://cogneuro2e.sinauer.com/

It is imperative that you read the corresponding textbook section before attending class! This will help you
digest the material when presented in class. This is even more important as interacting (e.g. asking and answering
questions) in class via Zoom will be somewhat more challenging than in an in-person lecture setting.
Student integrity: the Duke Community Standard applies (http://studentaffairs.duke.edu/conduct/about-us/duke-
community-standard). Should a student violate aspects of the Duke Community Standard, he/she will either fail the
particular graded assignment, or he/she will fail entirely, depending on the severity of the violation.
If you are unable to attend class because you are sick, please submit a STINF. If you are unable attend a class and/or
to complete a graded assignment out of religious reasons, please follow the procedures outlined here:
http://trinity.duke.edu/undergraduate/academic-policies/religious-holidays. If you are a varsity athlete and are unable
to attend a class and/or to complete a graded assignment, please follow the procedures outlined
here: http://trinity.duke.edu/undergraduate/academic-policies/athletic-varsity-participation

Late Submissions: Tardiness for the paper submission at the end of the semester will result in a deduction of 5% of
the grade per hour, up to a maximum of 50%. Failure to complete the peer assessment evaluations will result in a
deduction of 20% of the peer evaluation score.

Grading:
Midterms (25% x 3 = 75% of total score):
There will be three midterms evenly spaced throughout the semester (thus, no big final exam). Each midterm will
consist mainly of multiple-choice questions. The midterms will be administered either in-person or online via Sakai
and will be timed (with adjustments for students who need additional time). Online midterms will be open book/notes
and will cover all aspects of the course including material from the lectures (including video clips), the textbook, and
any other material used in the class; in-person midterms will be closed book/notes (i.e., only paper and pen).

Group research project (20% of total score)

The main activity during sections is to develop and ultimately present a research project. The section will be divided
into groups of ~4-6 students, and, over the course of the semester, each group will develop a proposal for a cognitive
neuroscience experiment and present it (~10-min each) during the sections of 4/12 and 4/13. Dr. Overath will try to
attend these sections (or watch a video recording) and he and the TAs will select the best five project/presentations.
The winners will present their project (12-min each) to the entire class during the class time on 4/14.
The research project has two goals. First, it will contribute directly to the objective of providing a first-hand experience
of cognitive neuroscience research. Closely guided by the TA, students will choose a research topic, ask a research
question, design a cognitive neuroscience experiment, generate specific predictions, and evaluate the implications of
the predicted results. Second, the research project will promote cooperative learning, which is a powerful learning
method. Cooperative learning is more effective if there is individual accountability, face-to-face interaction, and
periodic self-assessment. To ensure individual accountability, the research project will be evaluated not only at the
group level but also at the individual level. Face-to-face-interaction will be guaranteed by forming groups with students
in the same section and having group meetings during the sections. Finally, the groups will evaluate their operation
twice during the class.
The grade for the research project will consist of four components. (1) Originality and feasibility of the idea: 20%.
Like scientific proposals in real life , the project will be evaluated in terms of its chances of success and its potential
contributions to the field. (2) Paper: 30%. This will roughly correspond to 20% for the contents of each of the 5 main
sections of the paper: (i) Abstract, (ii) Introduction, (iii) Methods, (iv) Results, (v) Discussion. All members of the group
work together on the paper throughout the semester. Each group submits one paper. The paper should be about
1,000 words in length (excluding figure captions and references). (3) Oral presentation: 20%. This will roughly
correspond to 15% for the contents of each of the 6 main sections of the presentation: (i) Summary of the relevant
literature, (ii) Hypotheses, (iii) Methods, (iv) Results, (v) Discussion and (vi) Future Directions. The ~4-6 members of
the group will present their group project in a ~10-min presentation in their section on 4/14 or 4/13. Each member
should present a part of their project. These ~10-min presentations will be evaluated by Dr. Overath and the TAs. Up
to five winners will be chosen, who will then present their project in the penultimate class on March 20. (4) Individual
contribution: 30%. To ensure individual accountability in the groups, students will evaluate their own and their group
members contributions. A first peer feedback assessment will be conducted in mid March; this will not be graded, but
serves as a guide for students to get peer feedback on how they are doing/contributing in the group. The final peer
feedback will be conducted after the presentation in the last week of classes; this will be graded.
Extra credit for winners of the project presentation: 3%.

Lecture and sections attendance (5% of total score):

Attending lectures and sections is mandatory and attendance will be assessed by checking the Zoom participants at
random times during the lecture/section and via online logs of the Zoom meeting (there are some accommodations
for students in time zones that make live online participation difficult); for in-person attendance, the TAs will note
attendance at a random time during the lecture/section. If you missed a class due to illness, you need to submit a
Short-Term Illness Notification Form (STINF, http://trinity.duke.edu/undergraduate/academic-policies/illness; note the
definition of incapacitation ). Given the current circumstances, we will be flexible and consider other reasons for
missing a lecture or section, but please alert Dr. Overath and the TAs of the absence and provide a thorough
justification in advance. Any unexcused absence will result in subtracting 1% from the total final score, up to a limit of
5% final score adjustment. Attendance records will be posted regularly on Sakai; please check these periodically. No
changes can be made to attendance records once the final letter grade has been posted on DukeHub.

Curving of the grade: The grades will be curved so that the mean and standard distribution of the grades
approximately matches grades in previous years, when the course was taught face-to-face. This procedure will ensure
that students taking the class this year are not disadvantaged by the current situation. For example, if in previous
years the mean grade was around a B+ and most grades fell between a B- and an A (this is only an example), then
this year the mean grade will be around a B+ and most grades will fall between a B- and an A (this is again only an
example). In other words, your GPA will not be affected by taking the course this year instead of in a normal year.
Office hours by appointment (email Dr. Overath or the TAs). Important: if you email us (either to arrange an (online)
office hour, or if you have a question, or for any other reason), please email all of us; one of us will then get back to
you ASAP.
Lectures: PDFs of the lectures will be available after the lectures; all online lecture classes are recorded and available
via the Zoom tab on Sakai (use SSO login option).
 Schedule
Tue Thu Topic Reading Sections
6-Jan Introduction Chapter 1
11-Jan Methods Chapter 2
Topic completed
13-Jan Chapter 3 (~pp 55-68)
Vision
18-Jan Chapter 3 (~pp 69-91)
20-Jan Chapter 4 (~pp 93-100)
Audition
25-Jan Chapter 4 (~pp 100-110) Literature review
27-Jan Chapter 5 (~pp 131-144) completed
Motor Systems
1-Feb Chapter 5 (~pp 144-165)
3-Feb Midterm I
8-Feb Chapter 6 (~pp 167-176) Hypotheses
Attention
10-Feb Chapter 6 (~pp 167-203) completed
15-Feb Attentional Control Chapter 7 (~pp 205-231) Submit paper-to-
17-Feb Memory: Intro Chapter 8 (~pp 270-277) date
22-Feb Memory: Declarative Chapter 9 Prelim. individual
24-Feb Memory: Nondeclarative Chapter 8 (~pp 251-270) evaluation
Chapter 10 (~pp 319-
1-Mar Emotion: Overview
345) Methods completed
3-Mar Midterm II
8-Mar
Spring Break
10-Mar
Emotion: Cogn. Chapter 10 (~pp 345- Results
15-Mar
Influences 357) completed; submit
17-Mar Social Cognition Chapter 11 paper-to-date
Chapter 12 (~pp 393-
22-Mar
406) Discussion
Language
Chapter 12 (~pp 406- completed
24-Mar
427)
Chapter 13 (~pp 458-
29-Mar Executive Control: WM
464) Implications
Executive Control: Chapter 13 (~pp 429- completed
31-Mar
Systems 458)
5-Apr Decision Making Chapter 14
Slides completed
7-Apr Evolution Chapter 15
12-Apr Development Chapter 15 Presentations;
14-Apr Project winner presentations submit final paper
No sections this
19-Apr Midterm III
week