Syllabus : Introduction to Learning and Memory (PSYCH 45)¶

People¶

Alternate Exams TA: Pam Wang

Course Requirements¶

The course grade will be based on two midterms (each 25%), a final (25%), a written assignment (15%), participation prompts (5%), and memory in action assignments (5%). You may receive up to 2 bonus points for peer assistance on Piazza. For the written assignment, students are asked to submit a 4-page (double-spaced) paper that summarizes and critiques the accuracy of how memory is depicted in the movie Memento. Guidelines for the written assignment can be found below.

Textbook¶

Gluck, M., Mercado, E., & Myers, C. (3rd Edition) Learning and Memory: From Brain to Behavior. NY: Worth Publishers.

Additional Readings¶

Articles:

• 1. Squire L.R. (2009). The legacy of patient H.M. for neuroscience. Neuron, 61: 6-9. [pubmed citation]
• 2. Schacter DL. (1999). The seven sins of memory: Insights from psychology and cognitive neuroscience. Am Psychol. 54(3):182-203. [pubmed citation]

Note: Articles can be downloaded as PDF’s at PubMed

• After locating the PubMed citation for a given article, click on the link to view the abstract.
• On the abstract page, there will be a link to the journal (often in the upper right corner) for direct PDF download.

[NOTE: You will need to do this from a computer with Stanford site-license privileges.]

Written Assignment: Memory in Memento¶

Due 12pm May 31, 2018

For the written assignment, students are asked to submit a 4-page (double-spaced) paper that summarizes and critiques the accuracy of how memory is depicted in the movie Memento. The objective of the written assignment is to provide an opportunity for you to think actively and independently about the nature of memory, as revealed through experimental research. Your assignment is to serve as a memory expert who has been called upon to review the movie Memento (2000). Your task is to write a review of the movie that highlights three characteristics of memory that are explicitly depicted in the film (Note: The movie depicts many more than three characteristics of memory; you should choose the three that you would like to write about).

Importantly, for each of the three characteristics you discuss, you should:

• 1. describe the form of memory, the memory process, or the characteristic of memory that is depicted;
• 2. critically evaluate whether the depiction is accurate or inaccurate, stating exactly what the director got right or wrong;
• 3. provide experimental evidence from the literature discussed in class and/or in the readings that supports your evaluation.

The instructor and TAs will organize two opportunities to screen Memento (see dates on Schedule, below). If you cannot attend either screening, then you should make arrangements to independently view the film. Stanford library has three copies of the DVD that can be checked out, and the movie may also be available for streaming online.

Participation Prompts¶

During lecture, we will pose questions that are designed to prompt reflection on the nature or science of memory. We will ask you to generate a brief written response that will be handed in at the end of the class. Over the term, there will be 7 such prompts, and you will be asked to turn in 5.

Memory in Action Demos¶

We have assembled a series of memory demos that can be performed on-line. Each demo will serve to illustrate a fundamental memory phenomenon and may also generate data from the class that we can discuss during lecture. For each demo, we will also pose a question or two, to which we ask that you provide brief responses (uploading your responses via Canvas). MIA Demos should be completed and uploaded to Canvas 24hrs prior to the date/lecture specified on the syllabus.

Schedule¶