Skyline College

Psychology Department
PSYC 220: Introduction to Psychobiology
Fall 2023
Course and Contact Information
Instructor: Dr. Shaun Perisho
Email: perishos@smccd.edu
Office Hours: Bldg. 12 Rm. 140C
MWF: 10:30am-11:30am
Tuesday: 3pm-4pm

Class Page: https://smccd.instructure.com/courses/53396

Prerequisites: PSYC 100 or equivalent.

Required Texts/Readings/Materials
Pinel, J. P. (2015). Introduction to Biopsychology (9th Ed.). Pearson Higher Ed.

This is an older edition of the text and should be available used at a relatively low price. Feel free to contact me
if you need help tracking down an affordable copy.

Course Description
Survey of central and peripheral nervous system processes underlying the behavior of humans and animals.
Emphasizes evolutionary, genetic, and gender differences underlying social behavior; anatomical and
physiological substrates of behavior and consciousness; and neural mechanisms and sensory processes
associated with learning, language, perception, motivation, emotion, sleep, speech, and sexuality.

Student Learning Outcomes:

Upon successful completion of this course, a student will meet the following outcomes:
 Evaluate the psychobiological mechanisms underlying mental processes and behavior, especially those
associated with development, sensory processes, perception, movement, consciousness, motivation,
emotion, learning, memory, language, and psychological disorders
 Recognize the research methodology and general principles of research ethics for the study of animals
and human beings, including the impact of cultural/ social attitudes related to research methods.
 Discuss findings presented by a diverse group of researchers.
 Analyze and evaluate major research premises, methods and conclusions that establish the biological
basis of Psychobiology

Course Objectives:
1. Upon successful completion of this course, a student will be able to:
 Compare and contrast the major biological theories of learning and memory.
  Demonstrate the capacity to critically evaluate reports focusing on psychobiological issues in the
popular press and be able to assess the merits of claims made about research by both its
proponents and opponents.
 Critically evaluate the biological basis of emotion, personality, sexuality, and psychopathology.
 Compare and contrast the influence of genetic and environmental factors on nervous system
development and function and their ultimate consequences for behavior.
 Analyze the general anatomy and function of neurons and glia and their respective functions in
the nervous system.
 Demonstrate a preliminary understanding of within neuron communication, including the
electrical and chemical elements of resting, pre-synaptic, post-synaptic, and action potentials.
 Evaluate the actions of major psychotherapeutic and recreational drugs on neuronal function and
explain the connection between changes in neuronal function and their behavioral consequences.
 Generate and explicate concrete examples of invasive vs. noninvasive research methods and the
general principles of research ethics for the study of animals and human beings, including the
research safeguards and the peer-review process in science.
 Identify and understand the contributions and perspectives made by women and BIPOC.
 Define and use basic biological, physiological, and psychological terminology of the
neurosciences.
 Identify and describe the major anatomical features of the central and peripheral nervous
systems.
 Summarize the major issues in human evolution, genetics, and behavioral development that
underlie the "biology of behavior."

Midterms and Final Exams (50% of Final Grade)

Exams will be administered in class. We will have three midterm exams during the quarter followed by one
cumulative final during finals week. Your final grade in the course will consist of your three highest scores out
of the four exams. For this reason, no makeup exams will be given. If you miss a midterm it will count as your
“dropped” grade. This also means that, if you are happy with your scores on each of the three midterms, you are
welcome to skip the cumulative final.

Assignments (50% of Final Grade)

I will periodically post assignments on our Canvas page. These postings will include instructions on how to
complete the assignment, how to submit the assignment, and how to access any relevant resources that may be
helpful.

Late assignments will be penalized 10% for every day they are late. This means the maximum score for an
assignment turned in after the due date is 90%, followed by 80% the next day, 70% the following day, and so
on.

Cheating and Late Policy

Cheating on any exam or assignment will result in a zero for that assignment/exam. Repeated cases of cheating
(or particularly severe instances) may result in more severe penalties, including a zero in the overall course.

Late assignments will receive a penalty of 10% per day past the original due date. This means that assignments
submitted more than ten days late will receive an automatic zero.
Grading

Range Letter Grade

93-100 A
90-92.99 A-
87-89.99 B+
83-86.99 B
80-82.99 B-
77-79.99 C+
73-76.99 C
70-72.99 C-
67-69.99 D+
63-66.99 D
60-62.99 D-
0-59.99 F

Classroom Protocols
Because this class is online, it will be incredibly important to check your email as frequently as possible. That
will be the method of communication I use to keep you posted on changes to the course, upcoming deadlines,
and other important information.

You will need a source of reliable internet access to complete our timed exams. If you do not have reliable
internet access, be sure to let me know as soon as possible and I can help put you in touch with resources
that may help.

Counseling Services:
College can be a particularly challenging and stressful period. If you feel the need to talk to someone at any
time please contact Counseling Services at (650) 758-4270 between 9AM and 6PM, Monday through Thursday.
You can also visit the Skyline Counseling website for additional information. I’m here to help you thrive both
inside and outside the classroom. Please don’t hesitate to reach out to me if you’d like any help navigating this
process or other resources available in our community.

Other Resources:
You have access to academic, medical, financial, technical and other forms of help remotely through the Virtual
Campus website. It’s extremely intuitive and easy to use so I’d strongly recommend taking a minute to browse
the options it can offer to make your semester easier, healthier, and more successful.

Degree Applicability and Course Transferability:

Official information about course transferability and degree applicability is stated in the Skyline College
Catalog. Information about course transferability and degree applicability is updated on an annual basis. For the
most current information about course transferability, consult a Skyline College counselor and ASSIST, the
online transfer information database: http://www.assist.org For the most current information regarding
Associate Degree requirements, please consult a Skyline College counselor and the Skyline College Catalog:
http://skylinecollege.edu/catalog/

Regarding Title IX:

The SMCCCD maintaining safe and caring college environments at Cañada College, College of San Mateo and
Skyline College. The District has established policies and procedures regarding Sexual Misconduct,
Harassment, and Assault. A District website has also been developed which provides you with important
information about sexual misconduct and sexual assault. http://smccd.edu/titleix. To learn more about these
issues and how you can help prevent them, you are encouraged to view the Not Anymore videos, which can be
found on WebSMART under the Student Services link. Click on the 'Not Anymore Website'.

Course Schedule
Week Date Topics, Readings, Assignments, Deadlines Exams
1 8/16-8/18 Ch. 1: What is Biopsychology?
2 8/21-8/25 Ch. 3: Anatomy of the Nervous System
3 8/28-9/1 Ch. 4: Neural Conduction and Synaptic Transmission
4 9/4-9/8 Ch. 4: Neural Conduction and Synaptic Transmission
5 9/11-9/15 Ch. 6: The Visual System Exam 1 (9/15)
6 9/18-9/22 Ch. 6: The Visual System
7 9/25-9/29 Ch. 7: Mechanisms of Perception
8 10/2-10/6 Ch. 9: Development of the Nervous System
9 10/9-10/13 Ch. 10: Brain Damage and Neuroplasticity
10 10/16-10/20 Ch. 11: Learning, Memory, and Amnesia Exam 2 (10/20)
11 10/23-10/27 Ch. 13: Hormones and Sex
12 10/30-11/3 Ch. 15: Drug Addiction
13 11/6-11/10 Ch. 16: Lateralization, Language, and the Split Brain
14 11/13-11/17 Fall Break (no class)
15 11/20-11/24 Ch. 16: Lateralization, Language, and the Split Brain
16 11/27-12/1 Ch. 17: Emotion, Stress, and Health
17 12/4-12/8 Ch. 18: Psychiatric Disorders Exam 3 (12/8)

Final Exam due at the end of finals week (December 15th by 11:59PM)

Some Important Notes About Netiquette

1. Behind Every Name There is a Person
a. Respect the privacy of your classmates and what they share in class.
 b. Ask classmates for clarification if you find a discussion posting offensive or difficult to
understand.
c. Avoid sweeping generalizations. Back up your stated opinions with facts and reliable sources.
d. Understand that we may disagree and that exposure to other people’s opinions is part of the
learning experience.
e. Be respectful of each other. We’re all in this together. Before posting a comment, ask whether
you would be willing to make the same comment to a person’s face.
f. Keep in mind that everything you write, indeed every click of your mouse is recorded on the
network server. On the Internet there are no take backs.
g. Keep in mind that you are taking a college class. Something that would be inappropriate in a
traditional classroom is also inappropriate in an online classroom.
2. Online Communication
a. Be aware that typing in all capital letters indicates shouting.
b. Be careful with humor and sarcasm. Both can easily be misunderstood!
c. Review all discussion postings before posting your own to prevent redundancy.
d. Check your writing for errors by reviewing what you’ve written before submitting it.
e. Acronyms (LOL, etc.) and emoticons (smilies) are commonly used online, but be careful not to
overuse them.
f. Many communications with your instructor or fellow students are best handled through email.
Only post on the classroom discussion board if the conversation is relevant to others in the class.

Course Accommodations Through EAC

To obtain disability-related academic adjustments and/or auxiliary aids, students with disabilities must contact
the course instructor and the Educational Access Center (EAC) as soon as possible. To contact EAC, you may
visit Building 5, Room 5-132, call 650-738-4280, e-mail skyeac@smccd.edu or go to the EAC website. If you
believe you may have a disability-related condition that is impacting your academic progress, you can talk with
someone at the Counseling Center or EAC about how to see a provider in order to obtain a diagnosis or get your
questions answered.

Degree Applicability and Course Transferability:

Official information about course transferability and degree applicability is stated in the Skyline College
Catalog. Information about course transferability and degree applicability is updated on an annual basis. For the
most current information about course transferability, consult a Skyline College counselor and ASSIST, the
online transfer information database: http://www.assist.org For the most current information regarding
Associate Degree requirements, please consult a Skyline College counselor and the Skyline College Catalog:
http://skylinecollege.edu/catalog/

Regarding Title IX:

The SMCCCD maintaining safe and caring college environments at Cañada College, College of San Mateo and
Skyline College. The District has established policies and procedures regarding Sexual Misconduct,
Harassment, and Assault. A District website has also been developed which provides you with important
information about sexual misconduct and sexual assault. http://smccd.edu/titleix/ To learn more about these
issues and how you can help prevent them, you are encouraged to view the Not Anymore videos, which can be
found on WebSMART under the Student Services link. Click on the 'Not Anymore Website'.

Some Important Notes About Netiquette

 3. Behind Every Name There is a Person
a. Respect the privacy of your classmates and what they share in class.
b. Ask classmates for clarification if you find a discussion posting offensive or difficult to
understand.
c. Avoid sweeping generalizations. Back up your stated opinions with facts and reliable sources.
d. Understand that we may disagree and that exposure to other people’s opinions is part of the
learning experience.
e. Be respectful of each other. We’re all in this together. Before posting a comment, ask whether
you would be willing to make the same comment to a person’s face.
f. Keep in mind that everything you write, indeed every click of your mouse is recorded on the
network server. On the Internet there are no take backs.
g. Keep in mind that you are taking a college class. Something that would be inappropriate in a
traditional classroom is also inappropriate in an online classroom.
4. Online Communication
a. Be aware that typing in all capital letters indicates shouting.
b. Be careful with humor and sarcasm. Both can easily be misunderstood!
c. Review all discussion postings before posting your own to prevent redundancy.
d. Check your writing for errors by reviewing what you’ve written before submitting it.
e. Acronyms (LOL, etc.) and emoticons (smilies) are commonly used online, but be careful not to
overuse them.
f. Many communications with your instructor or fellow students are best handled through email.
Only post on the classroom discussion board if the conversation is relevant to others in the class.

Course Accommodations Through EAC

To obtain disability-related academic adjustments and/or auxiliary aids, students with disabilities must contact
the course instructor and the Educational Access Center (EAC) as soon as possible. To contact EAC, you may
visit Building 5, Room 5-132, call 650-738-4280, e-mail skyeac@smccd.edu or go to the EAC website. If you
believe you may have a disability-related condition that is impacting your academic progress, you can talk with
someone at the Counseling Center or EAC about how to see a provider in order to obtain a diagnosis or get your
questions answered.