PSYC 3766 - Cognitive Neuroscience
Fall 2026 Syllabus, Section 01, CRN 42805,
Credit hours: 3
Course Meeting Times
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Instructor
James Juergensen
Email: jejuergensen@ysu.edu
Course Description
Professor’s Additional Course Description:
This course is designed to provide students with a strong basic knowledge of the field of Cognitive Neuroscience. We will cover the foundations of the field and develop a thorough understanding of the neural bases of cognition, affect, and human behavior. Throughout this course, we will get a review of various areas of Cognitive Neuroscience, including neuroanatomy, hemispheric specialization, brain development, vision, audition, attention, language, executive functions, learning/memory, consciousness and emotion regulation, among a variety of other topics. This course will include a variety or sources including the required textbook, additional readings, and a series of podcasts/presentations.
Course Readings
| Group | Title | Author | ISBN |
|---|---|---|---|
| Required | Phantoms in the Brain: Probing the Mysteries of the Human Mind | Ramachandran, V.S. | 9780688172176 |
| Optional | Cognitive Neuroscience 6e Courseware (Norton Illumine Ebook, Videos, ZAPS, and 3D Brain) | Gazzaniga et al. | 8220147029685 |
The course readings are subject to change in the event of extenuating circumstances, research developments, current events, and/or to ensure better learning.
Assignments/Assessments
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Schedule of Topics and Assignments
| Day | Date | Reading(s) | Proposed Topic | Due/To Prepare for Class |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tue | 8/25 | Syllabus, Class Information, Introduction | ||
| Thu | 8/27 | Chapter 1 History of CN | ||
| Tue | 9/1 | Chapter 2 Structure and Function of the Nervous System | ||
| Thu | 9/3 | Chapter 2 Structure and Function of the Nervous System | ||
| Tue | 9/8 | Phantoms in the Brain Chapter 1 | Chapter 2 Structure and Function of the Nervous System | Group 1 Presentation |
| Thu | 9/10 | Chapter 3 Methods of CN | ||
| Tue | 9/15 | Phantoms in the Brain Chapter 2 | Podcast Group Share Unit 1 | Group 2 Presentation; Podcast Group Share Unit 1 |
| Thu | 9/17 | Exam #1 | ||
| Tue | 9/22 | Phantoms in the Brain Chapter 3 | Chapter 4 Hemispheric Specialization | Group 3 Presentation |
| Thu | 9/24 | Chapter 4 Hemispheric Specialization | ||
| Tue | 9/29 | Phantoms in the Brain Chapter 4 | Chapter 4 Hemispheric Specialization | Group 4 Presentation |
| Thu | 10/1 | Chapter 5 Sensation and Perception | ||
| Tue | 10/6 | Phantoms in the Brain Chapter 5 | Chapter 5 Sensation and Perception | Group 5 Presentation |
| Thu | 10/8 | Chapter 5 Sensation and Perception | ||
| Tue | 10/13 | Phantoms in the Brain Chapter 6 | Podcast Group Share Unit 2 | Group 6 Presentation; Podcast Group Share Unit 2 |
| Thu | 10/15 | Exam #2 | ||
| Tue | 10/20 | Phantoms in the Brain Chapter 7 | Chapter 7 Attention | Group 1 Presentation |
| Thu | 10/22 | Chapter 7 Attention | ||
| Tue | 10/27 | Phantoms in the Brain Chapter 8 | Chapter 9 Memory | Group 2 Presentation |
| Thu | 10/29 | Chapter 9 Memory | ||
| Tue | 11/3 | Phantoms in the Brain Chapter 9 | Chapter 10 Emotion | Group 3 Presentation |
| Thu | 11/5 | Chapter 10 Emotion | ||
| Tue | 11/10 | Phantoms in the Brain Chapter 10 | Podcast Group Share Unit 3 | Group 4 Presentation; Podcast Group Share Unit 3 |
| Thu | 11/12 | Exam #3 | ||
| Tue | 11/17 | Phantoms in the Brain Chapter 11 | Addiction | Group 5 Presentation |
| Thu | 11/19 | Addiction | ||
| Tue | 11/24 | Phantoms in the Brain Chapter 12 | Addiction | Group 6 Presentation |
| Thu | 11/26 | Happy Thanksgiving! No Class | ||
| Tue | 12/1 | Podcast Group Share Unit 4 | Podcast Group Share Unit 4 | |
| Thu | 12/3 | Final Exam Review | ||
| Tue | 12/8 | No Class; Finals week | ||
| Thu | 12/10 | Final Exam Thursday December 10th 10:30AM -12:30 PM |
The course schedule, policies, procedures, and assignments in this course are subject to change in the event of extenuating circumstances, by mutual agreement, and/or to ensure better learning.