Objectives: The course will feature the relationship between the brain and experience. Experience, you might find is more than you think! One of the more interesting properties of the brain is plasticity. Brain plasticity refers to the ability of the brain to change both its structure and function. Much evidence indicates that the ability of the brain to learn and adapt relies on the development of new connections and on the alteration of existing connections between cells. Experience, which includes development, learning, and damage, is a major cause of plasticity in all organisms. One aim of current research is to investigate how much plasticity is possible, how it can be measured, how it can be used, and whether it can be enhanced. The goal of this course is to introduce students to 1) the brain structures that plasticity is often studied in and 2) the general study of dynamic changes that are possible within the brain in response to experience.

This course is an Honors seminar course. Generally, you must be an Honor's student to enroll in the course. Students will be expected to present numerous times during the term. The actual number of presentations and the exact length will vary depending on the enrollment. Students should expect to give 7-8 presentations that will be 10-15 minutes in length, including questions. Students will be graded on overall participation, which includes their own presentations, questions to others, and general discussion of topics in the course (based on readings and lectures). There will be one midterm and one paper due at the end of the course. Students will need to use the web for access to readings.

There will be a list of required electronic journal readings that will all be accessible to UofM students through the UofM libraries - you may find that you need to be on campus to actually access these. If you want to print off the electronic articles or save them, click on the link here, then make sure to get the PDF version (see right hand corner box to find PDF link) of the article to get the best printable version and the nicest version to read and save. Although reading articles is necessary, printing all articles is not necessary and should not be considered required.
The aim of using e-journals is to try to have the most current information, which is unavailable as a package in any textbook.

Sometimes missing a test is avoidable, sometimes it may not be. Generally, there will not be any make-up tests. Students will be allowed to take make-up tests only with medical (or compassionate-grounds) documentation. Permission to write a make-up midterm must be obtained from the instructor. Times will be scheduled between those needing to write the exam and the instructor. University, provincial, or national athletes should discuss scheduling issues with the instructors immediately, especially if known conflicts exist. They should expect to make up exams at the instructor's convenience. Students with religious obligations need to provide notice (3 weeks) to the head of the department and present evidence for the religious obligations involved

Plagiarism or any form of cheating is subject to serious academic penalty. It is the responsibility of the student to acquaint themselves with Section 7 from the University of Manitoba Undergraduate Calendar for the current academic year - see Policies on Plagiarism and Cheating, and Examination: Personations. Academic dishonesty can result in serious consequences, eg. a grade of zero on an assignment or test, an F on a transcript (with a notation "CW" indicating compulsory withdrawal). The penalty can also include suspension for a period of up to five years from registration in courses taught in a particular department in Arts or from all courses taught in this Faculty. The Faculty reserves the right to check any work suspected of plagiarism through electronic resources. Speak to your instructor if you have any questions.

The following outlines three forms of academic dishonesty:
Plagiarism is to take the words or ideas (found on paper or electronic format) of another person and pass them off as one's own. Submission of a paper written in part or in whole by someone other than yourself is considered to be plagiarism and/or cheating.
Cheating in examinations or tests can take a variety of forms including, but not limited to, the use of unauthorized materials, and copying material from others. An assignment that is prepared for one course cannot be submitted for another course; this is called duplicate submission and is a form of cheating.
Examination Impersonation - A student who arranges for another individual (student or non-student) to write any nature of examination, as well as the individual who writes the exam, will be subject to discipline under the University of Manitoba's Student Discipline Bylaw.

A final percentage grade that has a fractional component will be rounded up if it is .5 or more, and downward if it is .499… or less. For example, a final score of 75.5% would be rounded up to 76%, but a score of 75.3% would be rounded down to 75%.