Courses regularly taught by Dr. Caulfield at Seton Hall University
Psyc 2228 – Neuroscience of Art: Art and science converge in this course that explores the relationship between the human brain and art. Students will gain a deeper appreciation of art as they analyze renowned artworks from a neuroscientific perspective, uncovering how the visual arts shape and are shaped by neural functions such as perception, attention, and emotion. The class will also examine the process of artistic creation, including the neural basis of creativity and how neurological and psychological conditions can shape and influence the creation of art.
Psyc 2318 – Experiential Learning in Psychology: This course formalizes the experience of students doing experiential learning in the Psychology Department as Research Assistants or engaging in a field experience. The class will focus on contemporary issues in the field of psychology, on workforce skill development, and on reflection and metacognitive practices.
Psyc 3213 – Sensation and Perception: Examination of research literature pertaining to visual, auditory, olfaction, gustation, skin and pain perception. Surveys of psychophysical methods; basic principles of visual acuity, color perception, perception of movement, constancies, development and learning, illusions, form identification, sound localization and perception of speech.
Psyc 3217 – Biological Psychology: Survey of the physiological basis for sensation and perception, motivation and emotion, altered states of consciousness, and learning and memory. Basic neurophysiological methods and the functions of the nervous system included.
Psyc 3218 – Cognitive Neuroscience: Examination of neuroimaging and neuropsychological methods used to study behavior and mental function from a systems-level perspective. Survey of research in the areas of cerebral asymmetry, voluntary action, spatial processing, object recognition, attention, language, memory, and executive function, with special emphasis on disorders of these functions resulting from damage to the brain.
Selected courses previously taught at other institutions
While You were Sleeping: The Neuroscience of Sleep (Villanova University): We spend approximately one-third of our lives asleep, and decades of research have supported the idea that both the quantity and quality of sleep impact our physical and brain health. Throughout this course, we will examine the current research on normal human sleep, circadian rhythms, and the effects of deprivation. We will also discuss the importance of “sleep hygiene”, where students will learn a variety of practical habits that will improve their sleep quality. In addition, students will gain hands-on experience with behavioral, physiological, and neuroscience techniques as we explore basic concepts used in the scientific study of human sleep.
Psychological Diseases: Brain & Behavior (Lafayette College): This course will utilize an advanced seminar-style approach to provide an in-depth look at psychological diseases from a brain-behavior perspective. We will review the neurobiological underpinnings of disease and the resulting psycho-behavioral outcomes, as well as emphasize current research and treatments through the examination of case studies and peer-reviewed research. The course will highlight such topics as language after stroke, emotional processing in traumatic brain injury, and working memory in multiple sclerosis.