PSY 411 - Advanced Topics in Psychological Science

A detailed examination of a current research area and/or methodological approach in psychological science, with an emphasis on primary literature. Not all topics are offered every year.

Neural Basis of Decision-Making
Decision-making is a fundamental cognitive process that shapes behavior, from everyday choices to complex problem-solving. This course examines the neural mechanisms underlying decision-making, integrating insights from cognitive and behavioral neuroscience, psychology, and adjacent fields. We will explore how brain regions such as the prefrontal cortex, basal ganglia, and amygdala contribute to evaluating options, weighing risks and rewards, and adapting to uncertainty. Furthermore, we will discuss how animal models can help us understand why we (sometimes) make bad decisions. Topics include the role of dopamine in reinforcement learning, the impact of emotion, motivation and bias on choices, animal models such as gambling, alcohol consumption, among others.

Neurodegenerative Diseases
This course examines neurodegenerative disease through a translational dialogue between patients and the laboratory. Rather than memorizing a catalog of disorders, students will use selected conditions as anchors (e.g., Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, Huntington’s, FTD, ALS) to understand clinical presentations, disease courses, and heterogeneity, and to identify what clinical observation alone cannot explain. The course then traces how mechanistic hypotheses are tested using human and nonhuman studies, biomarkers, and model systems across behavioral, cellular, molecular, and genetic levels. Emphasis is placed on prodromal and preclinical stages, the distinction between symptomatic and disease-modifying therapies, and why translation often fails. Students will also consider ethical and practical challenges in emerging interventions, including invasive neuromodulation and gene-based approaches. Throughout, students will practice formulating tractable research questions grounded in real clinical and basic science problems. As a culminating project, students will simulate selected dimensions of a neurodegenerative disease and analyze behavioral and molecular data to evaluate how experimental evidence can inform translational questions.

Unit(s): 1
Group Distribution Requirement(s): Distribution Group III, Distribution Group III-Data Collection and Analysis
Prerequisite(s):

Neural Basis of Decision-Making: PSY 333 , PSY 334 , PSY 373 , or PSY 381
Neurodegenerative Diseases: PSY 201 , PSY 203 , PSY 333 , or PSY 373

Instructional Method: Lecture-conference-laboratory
Grading Mode: Letter grading (A-F)
Repeatable for Credit: May be taken 2 times for credit
Group Distribution Learning Outcome(s):

Use and evaluate quantitative data or modeling, or use logical/mathematical reasoning to evaluate, test or prove statements.
Given a problem or question, formulate a hypothesis or conjecture, and design an experiment, collect data, or use mathematical reasoning to test or validate it.
Collect, interpret, and analyze data.