P439/749, Biopsychology of Stress, Elaine M. Hull, Professor

Contact information: Office: B-71 Park Hall,  e-mail: emhull@acsu.buffalo.edu;  phone: 645-3650, ext. 671

Web page: http://www.acsu.buffalo.edu/~emhull/

Office hours: T,Th: 12:30-1:30 and by appointment

Text: Robert Sapolsky: Why Zebras Don’t Get Ulcers

Aug. 28            Ch. 1: Why don’t zebras get ulcers?

        30  Ch. 2: Glands, gooseflesh, and hormones

Sept.  4 Ch. 3: Strokes, heart attacks, and voodoo death 

          6  Ch. 4: Stress, metabolism, and liquidating your assets

        11  (No class due to terrorist attacks)

        13  Ch. 5: Ulcers, colitis, and the runs

        18  NO CLASS—ROSH HASHANAH

        20  ORAL EXAM

        25  Ch. 6: Dwarfism and the importance of mothers

        27  NO CLASS—YOM KIPPUR

Oct.   2  GROUP PRESENTATION:  The importance of active mothering (Cruz, Lam, Maroney?, Williams)

          4  Ch. 7: Stress and reproduction

          9  REVIEW      

        11  WRITTEN EXAM

        16  GROUP PRESENTATION: Stress and sexual function (Glasser, Milewski, Pitts); begin Ch. 8: Immunity, stress    

             and disease

        18  GROUP PRESENTATIONS: Stress and eating disorders (Doldan, Fite, Holcomb, Kaw); finish Ch. 8.

        23  Ch. 9: Stress-induced analgesia,

        25  Ch. 10: Stress and memory

        30  Ch. 11: Aging and death

Nov.  1  ORAL EXAM           

          6  Ch. 12: Why is psychological stress stressful?

          8  GROUP PRESENTATION:  Antonovsky: Health, Stress and Coping (Huffman, Loh, Maroney?)

        13  Film—Stress and Emotions      

        15  NO CLASS—SOC. FOR NEUROSCIENCE meeting

        20  Ch. 13: Stress and depression

        22  NO CLASS--THANKSGIVING 

        27  Ch. 14: Personality, temperament, and their stress-related consequences

        29  Ch. 15: The view from the bottom; Ch. 16: Managing stress

Dec.   4 REVIEW

          6            WRITTEN EXAM, UBCATS

Format:  The format is based on lectures, group oral presentations, and a lot of discussion.  Because the textbook is written for “nonscientists,” there will be additional material incorporated into lectures and outlines. 

Grading:  Grades will be based on two written multiple-choice exams, worth 30 points each, two oral exams, worth 10 points each, and an oral presentation or paper, worth 20 points.  In addition, an optional, two-part final will be given during finals week; the grade(s) on that exam will replace one or both earlier multiple-choice exams, regardless of which grade is better.  The optional final will be made up of short-answer and essay questions.  The final grade will be a total of all points earned: 93-100=A; 90-92=A-; 87-79=B+; 83-86=B, etc.

Oral exams:  At least 1 week before each of the oral exams, I will distribute a list of questions that will be asked on that exam.  On the day of the exam, I will ask each person one (or more) of those questions; a full answer is worth 10 points, and partial answers will earn fewer points.  I will decide on the day of the exam the order in which I will ask the questions.  If the person does not know the first question, I will ask a second question, for partial credit. 

Group presentations or papers:  Each student will either participate in a group oral presentation or write an 8-10 page paper.  (Graduate students will write a 20-page paper. Also, I will have higher expectations regarding exams and paper quality.)  Both the oral presentations and the papers must be accompanied by a 1-2 page outline of main points.  I have materials in my office that cover the suggested topics and that can be checked out.  The group presentations can take the format of a debate, a skit, a talk or quiz show, or a basic information presentation. Written papers must be accompanied by an outline and at least one early draft.  Any topic relevant to this course can be chosen, if I approve it in advance.

Disability services: If you have a disability (physical, learning or psychological) that may make it difficult for you to carry out the course work as outlined, or requires accomodations such as note takers, readers, or extended time on exams, please contact the Office of Disability Services, 25 Capen Hall, 645-2608, and also me during the first two weeks of class.  ODS will provide you with information and review appropriate arrangements for reasonable accommodations.