W. J. Wilson's Classes
W. J. Wilson's Classes
NOTE: Some of the files on this page are in .pdf format. You will need a .pdf viewer to read them (Adobe, Ghostview, xpdf)
This is a survey course that provides an overview of many topics within psychology: history, methodology, psychobiology, sensation & perception, consciousness, learning, memory, intelligence, personality, psychopathology, and social psychology. I encourage a dialogue with the students - we attempt to discuss relevant current events and developments in the field. The 5 exams in the course are composed of multiple choice questions and defintions, short-answer essays, fill-in-the-blanks, etc.
Syllabus (.pdf) (Fall 2007)
Key Terms: Biological Bases of Behavior
Sensation, Perception, & Consciousness Handout
Synaptic Communication
Learning
Handout regarding the Pudovkin film
Learning & Memory Class Review Questions
Hunger information
Gender, Personality, & Intelligence
Class Review Questions
Good web page reviewing the concepts of biology and gender
Intelligence information
Psychopathology Overview
Social Psychology Overview
Psychopathology & Social Psychology Class Review Questions
Photos of current and past PSY 101 classes
The Introduction to Neuroscience courses at Albion. Neuro I provides an overview of the discipline, with an emphasis on behavioral and cognitive neuroscience. Neuro II revisits much of the material from Neuro I with an increased emphasis on cellular and molecular matters. Many neuroscience faculty sit in on the classes, even if we are not getting teaching credit, and we frequently guest-lecture. Materials presented in class will occasionally be available here.
Neuroscience I Syllabus (.pdf) (Fall
2007)
Questions to Consider when
Reading a Paper (.pdf)
Term Paper Guide: Manuscript
format, Published format (both
.pdf)
Neuroanatomy: CNS Structures (.pdf)
Your Brain on Drugs...
(lectures by W. J. Wilson, Feb 24 & 26, 2003)
Sex and the CNS
Emotions
Psychology of Learning examines basic research about how behavior is changed as a result of experience. Learning allows adaptation to environmental variation within the organism's lifespan (just as evolution allows adaptation to environmental changes over multiple lifespans). The course focuses primarily on Pavlovian and Instrumental learning, including an examination of basic mechanisms and discussion of theoretical implications.
Syllabus (pdf) (Spring 2007)
Guide for Reaction Paper:
Manuscript format,
Journal format
This course in behavioral neuroscience introduces the student to neurophysiology and neuroanatomy, and examines in detail the neural substrates of movement, perception, motivation, emotion, learning, memory, psychopathology, and consciousness. In addition to 4 short-answer essay exams, students must write several short papers (or sometimes one longer one) relating brain and behavior.
There is also a laboratory component in which students learn neuroanatomy and
examine the link between physiology and behavior.
Syllabus
(.pdf) (Spring 2007)
Krnjevic paper (pdf)
Quiroga et al. (2005)
Guide for Term Paper 2007 (manuscript format)
(journal format)
Sheep Brain Dissection Guide
Brain
Structures to Know
Options for Lab Research Project
- 2007 (pdf)
Nucleus Basalis information
Emotions <== Read This!!!
The emphasis of this course is to use the effects of drugs on the brain and on behavior to enhance our understanding of the neural control of behavior. Unlike most courses in psychopharmacology, this course does not examine only clinically relevant drugs. I discuss recreational drugs and drugs used only experimentally in order to illuminate the roles of particular neurotransmitter systems in behavior and psychopathology. Four short-answer essay exams, participation in class discussion, and a term paper are required of the students enrolled in the class.
Syllabus (Fall 2005)
Paper info - Fall 2005 (Journal
format) (Manuscript format)
BrainScape - an old, text-based neuroanatomy game (Zipped - used PKUnzip to access the game).
Amusing neuroanatomy refresher copyright notice
Acetylcholine
Serotonin
Students aiming for graduate school often choose to assist me in my laboratory in order to gain research experience. These students are responsible for scheduling and running the behavioral sessions, organizing and analyzing the data, and writing an APA-style paper describing the research. We have weekly lab meetings in which we discuss the status of the project, related studies done by others, and other topics of relevance to the research. Each semester there are 3 - 6 students enrolled in PSY 496.
The scientific method, a force guiding understanding and technological advances, has proven so successful that it attracts many imitators. These false sciences, or "pseudosciences," portray themselves as scientific, but they invariably fail to live up to this promise. In this course we will discuss the hallmarks of science and the tell-tale give-aways of pseudoscience, then we will examine in detail numerous popular pseudoscientific beliefs, including astrology, phrenology, UFOlogy, numerology, faith healing, creation science, and others. By the end of the semester you will be able to distinguish readily between rational, scientific approaches and the impostors.
This course is required of our majors, and usually enrolls about 20 - 40 students per section. I cover a wide range of statistical topics, including descriptive statistics, correlation and regression, traditional parametric and nonparametric inferential statistics, and bootstrap or resampling statistics. The course is computationally intensive; the exams involve problem-solving and interpretation of data.