PY7019 - Psychobiology (2020/21)
| Module specification | Module approved to run in 2020/21 | ||||||||||||
| Module title | Psychobiology | ||||||||||||
| Module level | Masters (07) | ||||||||||||
| Credit rating for module | 20 | ||||||||||||
| School | School of Social Sciences | ||||||||||||
| Total study hours | 200 | ||||||||||||
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| Assessment components |
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| Running in 2020/21(Please note that module timeslots are subject to change) |
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Module summary
This module provides students with a systematic understanding of the theory and research relating to the role of biological mechanisms in behaviour, including an evaluation of the use of animal experiments in psychology, and a critical examination of the behavioural and environmental context of psychobiology and different levels of psychobiological analysis.
Syllabus
Psychobiological topics will be drawn from: Neurochemistry and neurophysiology of nerve transmission; behavioural genetics; psychoneuroendocrinology. Psychopharmacology. Biological aspects of learning, memory, motivation and emotion, sleep and arousal. Evolutionary explanations of behaviour. Neuropsychology, cortical localisation of function, biological basis of psychological abnormalities. Sensory systems and conditions. LO1,LO2,LO3,LO4
Balance of independent study and scheduled teaching activity
A series of formal teaching sessions will encompass lectures, workshops and seminar sessions and students will also be required to carry out independent learning, generally in the form of background reading and engagement with web-based learning materials.
Learning outcomes
On successful completion of this module, students will:
(1) have an in-depth understanding of the biological mechanisms of behaviour;
(2) critically discuss different methodologies used in biological psychology;
(3) incorporate the biological mechanisms of behaviour and related phenomena into psychological and evolutionary accounts of behaviour, drawing on relevant theory and empirical research.
(4) hands on experiences in how to conduct an experiment and write a report on it.
Assessment strategy
This module is assessed by:
1) lab report addresses practical session & practice research methods that has been learnt (30%)
2) 2-hour seen exam 70%
Bibliography
CORE
Chandler, C. (2015). Psychobiology. Chichester, U.K.: John Wiley & Sons
ADDITIONAL
Carlson, N. R. (2012). Physiology of Behavior (11th ed.): Allyn & Bacon
Pinel, J. P. J. (2011). Biopsychology (8th ed.): Allyn & Bacon
Chandler C. (2010) The science of ADHD: A guide for parents and professionals