Module catalogue: PY7019

PY7019 - Psychobiology (2024/25)

Module specification

Module approved to run in 2024/25

Module title

Psychobiology

Module level

Masters (07)

Credit rating for module

School

School of Social Sciences and Professions

Total study hours

200

176 hours	Guided independent study
24 hours	Scheduled learning & teaching activities

Assessment components

Type	Weighting	Qualifying mark	Description
Coursework	30%		Lab report (2500 words)
Seen Examination	70%		2-hour seen exam

Running in 2024/25

(Please note that module timeslots are subject to change)

No instances running in the year

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.

Bibliography

CORE
Chandler, C. (2015). Psychobiology. Chichester, U.K.: John Wiley & Sons