Plants, the Brain

and Behavior:

A Chemical Love Story

Fall 2011

Journeys of Discovery

NMSU HONORS COLLEGE

Honors 115 M04-CRN 42230

Who is

Fabian Garcia?

http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:New_World_Domesticated_plants.JPG

Tabac_rustique.jpg: Atilin Wikipedia Commons

 
SCHEDULE OF TOPICS AND ASSIGNMENTS

Date

Week

Subject

23-Aug

1

Course Overview

Dissemination of syllabus and assignments

Course expectations

30-Aug

2

Botany of Desire

Readings

1. Ackerman NHoS: Chapters on Smell, Taste

2. Browse link

Neuroscience Virtual Encyclopedia http://www.ndgo.net/sfn/nerve/

6-Sep

3

The Brain and Senses- Core Concepts

Readings

1. PlBrSn Primer: Core Concepts http://www.sfn.org/index.aspx?pagename=core_concepts

1. Browse links:

Society for Neurosciences http://www.sfn.org/index.aspx?pagename=scienceAdvocacy

National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine http://nccam.nih.gov/

13-Sep

4

The Plant World

20-Sep

5

The Chemical Brain: Neurotransmitters, Ions, and Synapses

27-Sep

6

Secret Life of the Brain-to Think by Feeling

4-Oct

7

Neuroscience of Smell and Taste

11-Oct

8

Plant Chemistry: Aromatics & Alkaloids

18-Oct

9

Perfume

25-Oct

10

Neuroscience of Smell and Pleasure

1-Nov

11

Pain, Pleasure, & Plants

8-Nov

12

Brain Reward Systems and Plant Bioactives

15-Nov

13

Sensation, Perception and Reality:

Indigenous knowledge: Ayahuasca, A Case Study

A.   Sensory exploration 3- Entopic hallucinations

Visit one or both of these websites and use them to answer the questions that follow.

http://psychedelic-information-theory.com/Entopic-Hallucination

http://www.oubliette.org.uk/Three.html

1. What does “entopic” mean?
2. What is a phosphene?
3. What are common phosphene forms?
4. What type of stimuli elicit phosphenes?
5. When you create phosphenes, what do you see?

B.   Bioactive Molecule Exploration 5: Hallucinogens

Visit the following website to read about Ayahuasca, then answer the questions that follow:

http://www.biopark.org/ayahuasca.html

1. What are the main plants used to brew Ayahuasca and what bioactive molecules do they contain?
2. The psychoactive properties of Ayahuasca come from the interaction of two types of molecules.  Describe why the interaction between both of these molecules is necessary for the brew to be effective.
3. The action of ayahuasca is conducted primarily through what type of neurotransmitter receptor? Why?

22-Nov

14

Thanksgiving/No Class

NO CLASS

29-Nov

15

BioDiversity/BioPiracy-CulturoDiversity/CulturoPiracy

TBA

100 pts JOURNAL DUE

8-Dec

16

EXAM WEEK CLASS: (Take Home Final)

3:30-5:30 pm

TBA

Earning your grade (500 pts):

In class attendance: (180 pts) Based on your class attendance and participation (15 pts/class).

Portfolio assignment: (200 pts) Students will be asked to prepare a portfolio comprised of brief entries commenting on class discussion and readings and exercises that explore environments and molecules.   Details of the portfolio entries will be posted on the portfolio page

              Portfolio due dates:  Oct 11 (100 pts) and  Nov 29 (100 pts)

Reflective Writings (50 pts) Unannounced in class writing assignments (10 pts each)

Final Exam (70 pts). Take home assignment.