Spring 2011

PSYC 390 AA
Psychology of Consciousness

Instructor
Eric Larson
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Lecture Topics and Reading Assignments:

Read all pages before dates given below. Written assignments will be given in class. 

Note: This schedule is subject to change and may not be regularly updated.  Please check with the instructor for current schedule.

* Indicates an article available on class website

1.

1/19

W

First class;  Introduction to the Course; Go over Syllabus
Handouts: Syllabus; Topics & Reading; Student Questionnaire

2.

1/21

F

Lecture - Introduction to the Psychology of Consciousness
Small group discussion: "Beliefs About Consciousness"
Reading - C&B: Ch 1 - Introduction; Pinker: The Mystery of Consciousness

3.

1/24

M

Lecture – The Philosophical Foundations of Consciousness (pt. 1)
Reading - Blackmore: Introduction and Chapter 1

4.

1/26

W

Lecture – The Philosophical Foundations of Consciousness  (pt. 2)

5.

1/28

F

No Class

6.

1/31

M

Lecture – The Historical Foundations of Consciousness
Reading - Blackmore: Chapter 2

7.

2/2

W

Lecture  – Contemporary Theories of Consciousness  (pt. 1)
Reading - Blackmore: Chapter 3

8.

2/4

F

Lecture  – Contemporary Theories of Consciousness  (pt. 2)
Reading - Blackmore: Chapter 5

9.

2/7

M

Lecture – Attention and Consciousness
Reading - Blackmore: Chapter  4

10.

2/9

W

Lecture – Vision and Consciousness
Reading - Blackmore: Chapter 6

11.

2/11

F

Lecture – Concepts of Consciousness  (pt. 1)
Reading - Farthing: The Concept of Consciousness

12.

2/14

M

Lecture – Concepts of Consciousness (pt. 2)

13.

2/16

W

Lecture – Concepts of Consciousness (pt. 3)

 

2/18

F

HOLIDAY

 

2/21

M

HOLIDAY

14.

2/23

W

Lecture - Characteristics of Consciousness  (pt. 1)
Reading - Farthing: Characteristics of Consciousness

15.

2/25

F

Lecture – Characteristics of Consciousness (pt. 2) 

16.

2/28

M

Review

17.

3/2

W

MID-TERM EXAM #1

18.

3/4

F

Return and Review Mid-Term

19.

3/7

M

Lecture – The Physiology of Consciousness  (pt. 1)
Reading - C&B: Chapter 2; Blackmore: Chapter 16

20.

3/9

W

Lecture – The Physiology of Consciousness  (pt. 2)
Video: The Behaving Brain

 

3/11

F

Flex Day

21.

3/14

M

Lecture – Brain Anatomy

22.

3/16

W

Lecture  – The Split Brain
Reading - Blackmore: Chapter 7; Gazzaniga: The Split Brain Revisited

23.

3/18

F

Video: Secrets of the Mind
Reading - Blackmore: Chapter 18

24.

3/21

M

Lecture  – The Evolution and Function of Consciousness
Reading - Blackmore: Chapters 7, 10 & 11

25.

3/23

W

Video: Changing Your Mind

26.

3/25

F

Lecture  – Consciousness in Animals
Reading - Blackmore: Chapter 12

27.

3/28

M

Lecture  – Meditation  (pt. 1)
Reading - Blackmore: Chapter 26

28.

3/30

W

Lecture – Meditation (pt. 2)

29.

4/1

F

Lecture – Meditation and Mystical Experience (pt. 3)

 

 

 

SPRING BREAK (4/4 – 4/8)

30.

4/11

M

Lecture - Sensory Reduction
Reading - C&B: Chapter 8

31.

4/13

W

Review

32.

4/15

F

MID-TERM EXAM #2

33.

4/18

M

Return and Review Mid-Term

34.

4/20

W

Lecture - Sleep (pt. 1)
Reading – Blackmore: Chapter 23

35.

4/22

F

Lecture  – Sleep (pt. 2)

36.

4/25

M

Lecture – Dreams (pt. 1)

37.

4/27

W

Lecture – Dreams (pt. 2)
Reading – LaBerge: Lucid Dreaming

38.

4/29

F

Lecture – Hypnosis (pt. 1)
Reading – Tart: Hypnosis

39.

5/2

M

Lecture – Hypnosis  (pt. 2)
Paper Topics Approval Deadline

40.

5/4

W

Lecture – Self-Hypnosis and Consensus Trance
Reading – Tart: Consensus Trance

41.

5/6

F

Lecture – Consciousness Altering Drugs
Reading – Blackmore: Chapters 22 & 24

42.

5/9

M

Lecture – The Major Hallucinogens & LSD

43.

5/11

W

Lecture – Marijuana

44.

5/13

F

 Lecture – Peyote

45.

5/16

M

Lecture – Parapsychology
Reading – Blackmore: Chapter 20
Extra-Credit Papers Due

46.

5/18

W

Lecture – Parapsychology  (pt. 2)

47.

5/20

F

Review

 

5/23

M

FINAL EXAM  9:10 - 10:40

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