Outline - Faculty of Science

DEPARTMENT OF KINESIOLOGY

KINESIOLOGY 4P03: The Brain and Human Movement Course outline for WINTER 2013

Instructor: Dr. Ramesh Balasubramaniam Office: IWC 203 Phone: 905.525.9140 ext 21208 Email: [email protected] (preferably through Avenue mail) Office hours: Tuesdays 2:30-4pm or by appointment. Class schedule: Wednesday Friday Location:

11:30-1:20pm 1:30-2:20pm IWC E 201 (new building east of IWC)

Please note that the class meets for two hours on Wednesday and one hour on Friday. Course Content: This course examines the scientific study of human movement by exploring the relationships between brain and motor behaviour. Examples will be drawn from various movement pathologies to explain the function of the intact brain in movement organization & control. Upon completion of this course, students should have a strong understanding of the leading issues in the theories of motor control and their neural underpinnings. Specific Educational objectives: 1. To provide an advanced neurophysiological and cognitive framework for the scientific study of human movement control and brain function at large. 2. To apply this fundamental knowledge towards the study of specific motor behaviours such as reaching, grasping, balance, locomotion, timing, etc. 3. To develop researching and critical thinking skills in following current literature and debates in the neural control of movement. 4. To develop reading, writing, research and presentation skills necessary for the dissemination of scientific literature. 5. To provide a “capstone” experience for students in the Neuroscience of human movement using a problem-based learning approach.

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Format of the course: The first module of the course will focus on material that builds on the content learned in KIN3E03/Life Sci 3K03. This module covers leading/contemporary theoretical issues in sensory and motor systems of the brain. Specific topics covered will include vision, auditory system, speech, reaching, coordination and balance. The second module of the course will be devoted to the study of David Eagleman’s book, Incognito: the secret lives of brains. We will be using a self-directed, problem-based learning strategy for dealing with this book. All students will be responsible for reading the entire book; however, each chapter will be presented to the class by groups of students. (See section on evaluation for details) Resources: Module 1: Lecture notes and supplementary readings will guide the entire first month of the course. All of these will be posted on Avenue. The first mid-term will be based on this material exclusively. Module 2: Textbook: David Eagleman (2011). Incognito: The secret lives of the brain. Available for sale at Amazon or equivalent bookstore (or your local Indigo/Chapters/neighborhood bookstore). http://www.amazon.ca/Incognito-Secret-Lives-DavidEagleman/dp/0143172433/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1355339729&sr=8-1) You can also order it from the McMaster titles bookstore. The entire textbook will be read and taught using a problem-based-learning approach. Evaluation: There are four evaluation components 1) a mid-term exam 2) Group presentation 3) Group report and 4) Final paper. Monday Feb 6 Midterm exam

30% of total grade

Group class presentations (on Eagleman book) Group report (on Eagleman book) Final research paper Class participation

20% 15% 30% 5%

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Group class presentation Each of you will join a group of four (max 5) to take on the detailed study of the Eagleman book. Group membership list due: Group assignments and presentation schedules posted:

Jan 25 Jan 28

Each group will be in-charge of presenting sections of the book (in the order of chapters) to the class, which will be followed by rigorous discussions. Each group’s presentation will be scheduled on Wednesday’s class will be 45 minutes followed by 10 minutes of questions. The following Friday class will be devoted an intense discussion on the previous presentations. Group reports are due one week after each group has finished its presentation. Full instructions for the group presentations and group reports will be posted on Avenue and announced/discussed/clarified in class. Calendar for group presentations Feb 13: Feb 15, 20, 22: Feb 27: March 1: March 6: March 8: March 13: March 15: March 20: March 22: March 27: March 29: April 3: April 5:

Introduction to the book and instruction for presentations (Dr. B) No class (reading week) Groups 1 & 2 Discussion Groups 3 & 4 No class (Dr. B at a conference) Discussion & Groups 5 & 6 Discussion Groups 7 & 8 Discussion Groups 9 & 10 No class (good Friday) Discussion and final summary Final lecture

Every member of the class is expected to read the book in detail to follow the class presentations and discuss the sections in detail. A finalized calendar detailing the lecture/discussion schedule with group membership information and all course materials will be posted on Avenue.

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Individual project and research paper Research topic and outlines due:

March 1

Students will undertake a lit-review based research project that will look at the neural basis of one of the motor behaviours identified in the class (from the lectures and the Eagleman book). Instructions for the final paper will be provided during the course of the semester. The final paper is expected to be 20 pages (double spaced in a 12 pt font) not including references and supplemental materials. Final paper is due: April 10 This date is NOT negotiable. Instructions for the final paper will be provided during the course of the semester and posted on avenue. Expect to see this by mid-February. Teaching Assistants: Ninette Shenouda ([email protected]) & Kayla Fewster ([email protected]) Each student will have a specific contact TA assigned based on your last name and student number. Your TA will be your first line of contact for you for all course related concerns. The TAs will help with the grading of the exams and assignments. Policies: At all times students are expected to behave in a manner befitting that of a member of the University community. This includes. • •

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Respect and consideration for fellow students, TAs and instructors. Punctuality for class meetings and with assignments. Although lecture notes will be posted on the web ahead of the class, there is no substitute for actually being there in class. Students are expected to maintain the highest standards of academic integrity (e.g. regarding issues such as plagiarism and other misconduct). Failure to adhere to these standards will result in failure, without possibilities of appeal (see details below). Attendance is not mandatory for lectures but strongly encouraged for your own benefit; Full attendance participation in all assigned class activities and meetings is expected (especially student presentations and class discussions). Students are expected to take all necessary steps to find out about changes, including but not limited to class attendance, checking McMaster emails, and check online course management sites. Students are expected to consult course website frequently for updates, changes, lecture materials and class discussions (forum format). 4

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And please, no cell phone conversations/texting/emailing/social networking in the classroom.

POLICY REGARDING DEFERRED TESTS AND EXAMS Students who miss the term test for legitimate reasons such as illness may be allowed to write a deferred or "make-up" test. In all instances, appropriate documentation must be submitted to the Office of the Associate Dean, Faculty of Science. Students who miss a Registrar-scheduled final exam can apply to the Associate Dean’s office for permission to write in the deferred final exam schedule. In all cases, appropriate documentation must be submitted to the Office of the Associate Dean, Faculty of Science, for consideration of deferred examination permission. Under no circumstances will the instructor re-schedule a final exam for individual students. ACADEMIC INTEGRITY Academic dishonesty consists of misrepresentation by deception or by other fraudulent means and can result in serious consequences (e.g. the grade of zero on an assignment, loss of credit with a notation on the transcript reading "Grade of F assigned for academic dishonesty", and/or suspension or expulsion from the university). It is your responsibility to understand what constitutes academic dishonesty. For information on the various kinds of academic dishonesty please refer to the Academic Integrity Policy, specifically Appendix 3, located at: http://www.mcmaster.ca/univsec/policy/AcademicIntegrity.pdf The following illustrates only three forms of academic dishonesty: • Plagiarism (e.g. the submission of work that is not one's own or for which other credit has been obtained), • Improper collaboration during group work. • Copying or using unauthorized aids in tests and examinations. ON-LINE LEARNING RESOURCES (if applicable) Students should be aware that, when they access the electronic components of this course, private information such as first and last names, user names for the McMaster email accounts, and program affiliation may become apparent to all other students in the same course. The available information is dependent on the technology used. Continuation in this course will be deemed consent to this disclosure. If you have any questions or concerns about such disclosure please discuss this with the course instructor.

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TURNITIN.COM (if applicable) In this course we will be using a web-based service (Turnitin.com) to reveal plagiarism. Students will be expected to submit their work electronically to Turnitin.com and in hard copy so that is can be checked for academic dishonesty. Students who do not wish to submit their work to Turnitin.com must still submit a copy to the instructor. No penalty will be assigned to a student who does not submit work to Turnitin.com. (e.g., on-line search, etc.). To see the Turnitin.com Policy, please go to www.mcmaster.ca/academicintegrity MODIFICATIONS TO COURSE The instructor and university reserve the right to modify elements of the course during the term. The university may change the dates and deadlines for any or all courses in extreme circumstances. If either type of modification becomes necessary, reasonable notice and communication with the students will be given with explanation and the opportunity to comment on changes. It is the responsibility of the student to check their McMaster email and course websites weekly during the term and to note any changes. MISSED STUDENT ABSENT FORM If you are absent from the university for a minor medical reason, lasting fewer than 5 days, you may report your absence, without documentation, using the McMaster Student Absence Form. Absences for a longer duration or for other reasons (eg. Religious, personal) must be reported to your Faculty/Program office, with documentation, and relief from term work may not necessarily be granted. When using the MSAF, report your absence to [email protected]. Then contact the instructor/lab TA immediately (normally within 2 working days) by email/telephone/in person to learn what relief may be granted for the work you have missed, and relevant details such as revised deadlines, or time and location of a make-up exam. Content schedule: Course content details will be available on the avenue web site and updated on a regular basis. All lecture material will be supplemented with video demonstrations. All course notes/Powerpoint materials from group presentations will be posted on avenue promptly.

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