PSY353H5S – Social Neuroscience
Delivery Method: IN-PERSON
Schedule: LEC 0101: Wednesday 11:00am - 1:00pm
PRA 0101: Wednesday 1:00pm - 2:00pm
PRA 0102: Wednesday 2:00pm - 3:00pm
PRA 0103 Wednesday 3:00pm - 4:00pm
Room Location: LEC 0101: Instructional Building (IB) 250
PRA: Davis Building (DV) 2060
Contact Information
Dr. Melissa Holmes Teaching Assistants:
[email protected] Xinye Peng
[email protected] Office Hours: Wednesdays 2:00pm-4:00pm in Joaquin San Agustin
person (unless I am teaching the practical
[email protected] sessions that week, in which case, approach me Taylor Irvine
in class!). Zoom appointments also available;
[email protected] email to request.
Office Location: CCT4008
Course Description
The course will focus on the development and adult organization of brain mechanisms underlying the
perception of social information and production of diverse social behaviours in mammalian species.
Circumstances and events that can lead to diminished function and psychopathology in humans will be
considered.
Learning Outcomes
By the end of this course, you should be able to:
• Identify key concepts, principles, and methodological approaches in social neuroscience
• Understand how distinct brain regions work together to influence different types of social behaviour
• Explain variables that contribute to individual differences in social behaviour
• Analyze how social neuroscience findings are interpreted and communicated to broad audiences
• Explain how empirical findings can support or refute hypotheses
• Identify key variables in empirical research and infer evidence-based conclusions
Reading Material
Ward, J. (2023). The Student’s Guide to Social Neuroscience, 3rd Edition, UK: Psychology Press.
Additional readings will be posted directly on course website
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Course Evaluation
Term test 1 = 15%; Term test 2 = 15%; Written Assignments = 35%; Cumulative Final Exam = 35%
Details on the tests and assignments will be provided on the first day of class.
Course Webpage
The course website is accessed via http://q.utoronto.ca, which uses your UTORid login credentials. If you have any
questions regarding the course website system, please visit https://library.utm.utoronto.ca/faculty/canvas
IMPORTANT COURSE POLICIES **PLEASE READ**
Missed Test Special Consideration Request Process
Please review below Supporting Documentation section, Quercus page, and the Special Consideration request process
for term work and final exams found on the Department of Psychology website.
Students who miss a test due to circumstances beyond their control (e.g., illness or an accident) can request that the
Department grant them special consideration. Students must present their case to the Department (NOT the Instructor)
by submitting a request via the online Special Consideration Request Pilot at https://uoft.service-now.com/utm_scr as
soon as possible, but no later than 72 hours after the test date. Failure to do so will result in your request being denied.
If your request is approved by the department, the weight of the missed test will be redistributed to the cumulative final
exam.
Important Note: If, on the day of your test, you feel you’re unable to write or have an approved Special Consideration
Request to miss the assessment, DO NOT access or begin to write the test.
Supporting Documentation
ACORN Absence Declaration Tool
• Students who miss an academic obligation during the term (i.e., in-class assessment, quiz, paper or lab report)
may use the ACORN Absence Declaration Tool to record an absence in one or more courses.
o Students may utilize this option once per term for a single absence period of up to seven consecutive
days. The declaration period must include the day of declaration and may include past and/or future
dates, for a total of up to 7 calendar days.
o Use of this declaration does not require supporting documentation and should be used in addition to
the missed term work policy outlined in the course syllabus.
Important Notes:
o Please ensure to include the instructor's email when declaring an absence on the ACORN Absence
Declaration Tool
o Students are still required to submit a Special Consideration Request in addition to submitting an
ACORN Absence Declaration.
o Instructors may exclude one test or quiz from the one-time absence declaration, in which case the
student would be required to provide supporting documentation.
Learn more about the ACORN Absence Declaration Tool process by visiting the Registrar’s Office website:
https://registrar.utoronto.ca/policies-and-guidelines/absence-declaration/
Extension of Time Special Consideration Request Process
Students who seek to be granted more time to complete their term work beyond the due date without penalty, owing
to circumstances beyond their control (e.g., illness, or an accident), must do so by submitting a request directly to the
Winter 2024 - Department of Psychology Page 2
instructor for the period up to and including the last day of the term through the Special Consideration Request Pilot at
https://uoft.service-now.com/utm_scr. The decision whether or not to apply a penalty for the specified period rests
with the instructor.
Students who seek to be granted more time to complete term work beyond the last day of the term must submit their
request directly to the Department. This request covers the period following the last day of classes and ends the last
day of the exam period. This is done by submitting a request via the online Special Consideration Request Pilot at
https://uoft.service-now.com/utm_scr. If you have questions about this process, contact the Department prior to the
deadline: [email protected]
Missed Final Exam or Extension of Time beyond exam period
For missed final exams, or for extensions of time beyond the examination period, you must submit a petition through
the Office of the Registrar: http://www.utm.utoronto.ca/registrar/current-students/petitions and follow their
procedures.
Penalties for Lateness
A penalty of 10% per calendar day (i.e., including weekends and holidays) up to and including the last day of classes, will
be applied by the instructor. After the last day of classes, the penalty of 10% per calendar day will be applied by the
Undergraduate Counsellor on behalf of the Department.
No penalty will be assigned if a request for special consideration, described above, was successful.
Academic Guidelines
It is your responsibility to ensure you have met all prerequisites listed in the UTM Calendar for this course. If you lack
any prerequisites, you WILL BE REMOVED from the course, up until the last day to add a course. Information about
academic regulations, course withdrawal dates, and credits can be found in the UTM Calendar at:
https://utm.calendar.utoronto.ca/ You are encouraged to read this material.
Privacy and Copyright Disclaimer
Notice of video recording and sharing, if applicable
This course, including your participation, may be recorded on video and be available to students in the course for
viewing remotely and after each session. Course videos and materials belong to your instructor, the
University, and/or other source depending on the specific facts of each situation and are protected by copyright.
In this course, you may be permitted to download session videos and materials for your own academic use, but you
should not copy, share, or use them for any other purpose without the explicit permission of the instructor. For
questions about the recording and use of videos in which you appear, please contact your instructor.
Academic Honesty and Plagiarism
Academic integrity is essential to the pursuit of learning and scholarship in a university, and to ensuring that a degree
from the University of Toronto Mississauga is a strong signal of each student’s individual academic achievement. As a
result, UTM treats cases of cheating and plagiarism very seriously.
The University of Toronto’s Code of Behaviour on Academic Matters outlines behaviours that constitute academic
dishonesty and the process for addressing academic offences. Potential offences include, but are not limited to:
In papers and assignments:
1. Using someone else’s ideas or words without appropriate acknowledgement.
2. Submitting your own work in more than one course without the permission of the instructor.
3. Making up sources or facts.
4. Obtaining or providing unauthorized assistance on any assignment.
On tests and exams:
Winter 2024 - Department of Psychology Page 3
1. Using or possessing unauthorized aids.
2. Looking at someone else’s answers during an exam or test.
3. Misrepresenting your identity.
In academic work:
1. Falsifying institutional documents or grades.
2. Falsifying or altering any documentation required, including (but not limited to) doctor’s notes.
With regard to remote learning and online courses, UTM wishes to remind students that they are expected to adhere to
the Code of Behaviour on Academic Matters regardless of the course delivery method. By offering students the
opportunity to learn remotely, UTM expects that students will maintain the same academic honesty and integrity that
they would in a classroom setting. Potential academic offences in a digital context include but are not limited to:
Remote assessments:
1. Accessing unauthorized resources (search engines, chat rooms, Reddit, etc.) for assessments.
2. Using technological aids (e.g., software) beyond what is listed as permitted in an assessment.
3. Posting test, essay, or exam questions to message boards or social media.
4. Creating, accessing, and sharing assessment questions and answers in virtual “course groups”.
5. Working collaboratively, in-person or online, with others on assessments that are expected to be completed
individually.
All suspected cases of academic dishonesty will be investigated following procedures outlined in the Code of Behaviour
on Academic Matters. If you have questions or concerns about what constitutes appropriate academic behaviour or
appropriate research and citation methods, you are expected to seek out additional information on academic integrity
from your instructor or from other institutional resources.
Plagiarism Detection
Normally, students will be required to submit their course essays to the University’s plagiarism detection tool for a
review of textual similarity and detection of possible plagiarism. In doing so, students will allow their essays to be
included as source documents in the tool’s reference database, where they will be used solely for the purpose of
detecting plagiarism. The terms that apply to the University’s use of this tool are described on the Centre for Teaching
Support & Innovation website (https://uoft.me/pdt-faq)
Opt-out Students may opt out of this requirement by emailing the instructor before the assignment deadline. As an
alternative, students will need to submit their assignment, as well as their working notes, directly to the professor via
email.
Generative AI
The use of generative artificial intelligence tools and apps is strictly prohibited in all course assignments unless explicitly
stated otherwise by the instructor in this course. This includes ChatGPT and other AI writing and coding assistants. Use
of generative AI in this course may be considered use of an unauthorized aid, which is a form of cheating. This course
policy is designed to promote your learning and intellectual development and to help you reach course learning
outcomes.
Equity Statement
The University of Toronto is committed to equity, human rights and respect for diversity. All members of the learning
environment in this course should strive to create an atmosphere of mutual respect where all members of our
community can express themselves, engage with each other, and respect one another’s differences. U of T does not
condone discrimination or harassment against any persons or communities.
Academic Rights
You, as a student at UTM, have the right to:
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− Receive a syllabus by the first day of class.
− Rely upon a syllabus once a course is started. An instructor may only change marks' assignments by following
the University Assessment and Grading Practices Policy provision 1.3.
− Have access to your instructor for consultation during a course or follow up with the department if the
instructor is unavailable. - Ask the person who marked your term work for a re-evaluation if you feel it was not
fairly graded. You have up to one month from the date of return of the item to inquire about the mark. If you
are not satisfied with a re-evaluation, you may appeal to the instructor in chargeof the course if the instructor
did not mark the work. If your work is remarked, you must accept the resulting mark. You may only appeal a
mark beyond the instructor if the term work was worth at least 20% of the course mark.
− Receive at least one significant mark (15% for H courses) before the last day you can drop a course for H courses.
− Submit handwritten essays so long as they are neatly written.
− Have no assignment worth 100% of your final grade.
− Not have a term test worth 25% or more in the last two weeks of class.
− Retain intellectual property rights to your research.
− Receive all your assignments once graded.
− View your final exams. To see a final exam, you must submit an online Exam Reproduction Request within 6
months of the exam. There is a small non-refundable fee.
− Privacy of your final grades.
− Arrange for representation from Downtown Legal Services (DLS), a representative from the UTM Students'
Union (UTMSU), and/or other forms of support if you are charged with an academic offence.
Student Supports
Students have access to campus and community supports:
• Building resilience:
https://www.utm.utoronto.ca/sas/student-resources/resilience-utm
• Students experiencing distress:
https://www.utm.utoronto.ca/health/resources/utm-mental-health-resources
• RGASC: If you need advice about studying, preparing for exams, note taking or time management, free
workshops, individual consultations, and programs are available through the Robert Gillespie Academic Skills
Centre at 905-828-5406 or https://www.utm.utoronto.ca/asc/
• Accessibility Services: The University provides academic accommodations for students with disabilities in
accordance with the terms of the Ontario Human Rights Code. This occurs through a collaborative process that
acknowledges a collective obligation to develop an accessible learning environment that both meets the needs
of students and preserves the essential academic requirements of the University’s courses and programs.
Students requiring academic accommodations for learning, physical, sensory, or mental health disabilities or
medical conditions should contact the Accessibility Services Office (2037B Davis Building), 905-569-4699 or
https://www.utm.utoronto.ca/accessibility/
Winter 2024 - Department of Psychology Page 5
Course Outline
**Please note that this outline is subject to change depending on the needs of the class (we may need
additional time to cover a topic). Any changes to the syllabus will be announced in class one week
before. However, the assignment and test dates are fixed.
DATE LECTURE READINGS, ETC
January 10, 2024 Lecture 1: Course orientation, Chapters 1 & 2
Introduction, and Methods
January 17, 2024 Lecture 2: Neuroanatomy & Chapter 3
Evolutionary origins
January 24, 2024 Lecture 3: Perceiving and Communicating Chapters 5 & 11
with Others (e.g., face recognition)
January 31, 2024 Lecture 4: Perceiving and Communicating Chapter 6 (& 11 continued)
with Others (e.g., empathy) Practical Assessment #1 due
(10%)
February 7, 2024 Term Test #1 Based on Lectures 1-4 and
Followed by Lecture 5: Perceiving and readings; worth 15%
Communicating with Others (e.g., social
decision making) Chapter 7 (& 11 continued)
February 14, 2024 Lecture 6: Relationships: Parental Chapter 8
February 21, 2024 READING WEEK! No class
February 28, 2024 Lecture 7: Relationships: Romantic Chapter 8 continued
Practical Assessment #2 due
(10%)
March 6, 2024 Lecture 8: Relationships: Peer to Chapter 8 continued & 9
peer and groups
March 13, 2024 Term Test #2 Based on Lectures 5-8 and
Followed by: catch up for any readings; worth 15%
previous lectures
March 20, 2024 Lecture 9: Motivation and Emotion: Chapter 4
Temperament and Affect
March 27, 2024 Lecture 10: Psychopathology Chapter 10
(e.g., psychopathy)
April 3, 2024 Lecture 11: Psychopathology (e.g., autism) Chapter 10 continued
April 5, 2024 Practical Assessment #3 due
(15%)
FINAL EXAM TBA by Registrar’s Office Cumulative; based on all
*It is the student’s responsibility to be lectures and all associated
available for the entire Exam Period. readings; worth 35%
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