Psychobiology

Description

Overview: This core module is required for the Graduate Basis for Chartered Membership by the British Psychological Society (BPS). The purpose of this module is to provide the opportunity for students to learn the basic principles of brain function, and to encourage students to consider the implications of this understanding for their own view of how behaviour is generated. Prior knowledge of Psychology is required, specifically those issues covered in the first and second year modules. Although a prior knowledge of biology is helpful, no prior knowledge of biology is required, as the essential required elements will be covered in the module, either through lecture or through student led reading. Syllabus: The Teaching and Learning activities for this module consist of in-person lectures, recorded online lectures, supplementary online activities, in-person activities, directed reading, and informal online student discussions. The core textbooks for this module are: `Biopsychology’ (Pinel J) and `Behavioral Neuroscience’ (Breedlove SM and Watson NV). The aim of both the online and in-person lectures will be to clarify difficult concepts in the reading material, to bring the most important issues into focus and to provide additional detail on selected points. Students might also be directed to additional textbooks and/or journal articles of varying degrees of complexity and detail. Throughout the course, particular emphasis will be placed on the insights into behaviour (both normal and abnormal) that are gained by an understanding of brain function and development. Learning Outcomes: On completing the module, students should be familiar with the arguments supporting the hypothesis that the brain is the organ of behaviour and of psychological function, and should be aware of the implications of this hypothesis on the generation of behaviour. Students should be able to defend their own viewpoint on this issue by making use of evidence, parsimony and persuasive argument. Cognitive skills i. the ability to put intuitively-held beliefs about the causes of behaviour in perspective and to consider the implications of the empirical results in neuroscience and psychology for beliefs about the causes of behaviour ii. the ability to reconsider their own hypotheses in the light of new evidence or in the light of a more persuasive argument. iii. the ability to evaluate new evidence Knowledge and understanding i. to promote an understanding of the basic principles of brain function. ii. to raise awareness of the relationship between behaviour, psychological states and brain function. Assessment: The module is assessed by a final examination (50%), and two tests (25% each). The final examination contributes 50% towards the final module mark, and the two tests contribute 50% towards the final module mark (25% for each test). The final examination is held in April/May with an opportunity to resit in August. The regulations of University of Strathclyde and of the School of Psychological Sciences and Health require that students attend lectures, seminars, tutorials, and practical modules regularly and perform satisfactorily in the associated work. Students who fail to engage with lectures or who have not participated in module tests may be excluded from the degree examination. Any student with coursework outstanding at the time of the examination will receive a fail for the examination performance and will not be able to obtain a pass at the resit examination unless the outstanding work completed to a satisfactory standard has been submitted. Feedback Students will receive feedback on their performance in many forms and at various points during the semester. Students will receive individual marks on module tests. General feedback on final exam performance will be provided to the module.