Teaching

The brain is incredibly elegant, complex, and dynamic. This course offers an introduction to contemporary neuroscience and the multiple ways that scientists (you!) understand and explore the brain. We will learn how brain cells communicate and how different brain structures contribute to our rich repertoire of behaviors and thought processes. Topics (e.g., vision, learning/memory) will be discussed from the level of molecules up through how brain circuits interact.  By the end of this course, you will have gained a broad understanding of how the brain works and contributes to our everyday experiences.

Our behavior is complex, rich, and nuanced. How does our extraordinary brain – three pounds and 100 billion neurons – produce these behaviors? Together, we will review of the structure and function of the brain, then explore how the brain influences behavior by delving deeply into topics such as learning and memory, reproductive behavior, and drugs of abuse. Throughout the course, we will explore the types of questions that interest behavioral neuroscientists, practice developing hypotheses and designing experiments, evaluate commonly used methods and techniques in this field, and evaluate seminal research articles. 

One of the greatest – and most difficult – skills to develop is how to be a critical consumer of scientific information. This course is designed to develop your critical thinking and analytical abilities so that you can build your skills as a consumer of research—both in psychology and in the real world. We will learn how to systematically evaluate the reliability and validity of different claims that you might encounter in textbooks, research articles, the media, or in casual conversation. Specific topics include the nature of scientific explanations, the rationale and use of hypothesis testing, how to judge the validity and reliability of scientific measurements, and how to critically evaluate scientific evidence presented in journals and popular media. We will also have the opportunity to collaborate in small teams to develop and perform your own psychological experiment, including designing an original study, securing human-subjects approval, collecting and analyzing your own data, and presenting your findings as a APA-style journal article and an oral presentation. The goal of the laboratory portion of this course is to familiarize you with basic research approaches in psychology and the ways in which psychology data can be collected, analyzed and interpreted, using common data analyses and basic statistical software. By the end of this course, you will have gained a conceptual understanding of statistics commonly used in psychology, practiced engaging with statistical information in published studies, performed common analyses using SPSS software, and applied this knowledge to your own original dataset.

Myriad drugs are used in recreational and/or medical contexts, and play a complex role in our society. This course is designed to provide you with an understanding how drugs act on the brain to influence behavior. The course explores major principles of pharmacology to understand how drugs impact behavioral and cognitive processes. We will explore major biological, psychological, and sociocultural factors that contribute to various patterns of drug use and abuse, including dependence and addiction, and learn about current and emerging approaches to addiction treatment. We will analyze primary literature in psychology and neuroscience and evaluate how drug-related research informs healthcare policy, legalization, mental health services, and approaches to human flourishing. By the end of this course, you will have gained a broad understanding of how drugs act on the brain to influence our behavior and the complex ways that substance use impacts our communities.

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This course is frequently taught with a laboratory, which alternately consists of a research-based service learning opportunity or a student-designed experiment using mice.

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This course is designed to provide you with an in-depth examination of how the brain influences behavioral processes. We will explore under-appreciated but critical aspects of neurobiology, including the complex interactions between hormones and behavior. Specific topics will vary based on student interest and our class research project. The class will design and perform a novel research project using mice, on a topic of their choosing. This experience will allow us to explore, apply, and evaluate standard behavioral assays and neurobiological techniques to understand the biological roots of animal behavior.

This seminar explores special topics related to reproductive behavior. Topics may include sexual differentiation, partner preference, mate selection, sexual behavior, and parental care in human and non-human animals. Readings include primary journal articles and text excerpts reflecting psychological, neurobiological, and sociocultural perspectives.

This seminar takes a problem-based learning approach to exploring addiction. The topic of addiction is broad and complex, and there are many important problems/issues related to addiction. Each week, we will work in teams to identify a problem related to addiction, evaluate/critique related scientific studies and evidence-based approaches, and synthesize information that leads to a plausible solution. Along the way, we will explore theories and evidence-based approaches to studying substance-based and behavioral addictions. Readings explore the psychological, neurobiological, and sociocultural factors contributing to addiction, and current approaches to treatment and recovery.

I see our work together as a great opportunity to think collaboratively, critically, and carefully about your research topic. Research can be a labor of love – it requires creativity, deep thinking, perseverance, and an ability to embrace a path that is not always straightforward – this is the nature of scientific discovery. It is also a commitment of time and energy, and the more that you invest in the process, the more valuable your experience and your outcomes (papers, conference presentations, etc). I will work to ensure that you are engaging with a topic/project that interests you and guide you in your research project; I ask for commitment, earnest work, positivity, and open dialogue in return.

Click here for Cammack Lab Goals & Expectations