PSY10060 Brain and Behaviour

Academic Year 2023/2024

One of the big challenges in psychology is to understand how elements of the nervous system, such as neurons, can cooperate to produce high-level operations like perceiving, thinking, acting and consciousness. The aim of this module is to introduce you to biological psychology by way of studying the link between the brain and behaviour. Psychology students will gain an understanding of how the brain is involved in everything we do; whether it be recognising faces, getting a good night's sleep or remembering where you left the car keys.

The course consists of:
- Historical Perspectives and The Big Questions
- Measuring Brain and Behaviour
- The Developing Brain
- Movement & Action
- Sensation and Perception
- Executive Functions
- Sleep & Dreaming
- Memory & learning


Throughout the course, case studies will be presented to help show the link between brain and behaviour and to explain clinical disorders and real-life problems that neuroscientists and psychologists study.

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Curricular information is subject to change

Learning Outcomes:

On completion of this module students should be able to:
- Identify and describe the key questions that drive cognitive and behavioural neuroscience research
- Understand and be able to differentiate between the main techniques that psychologists use to probe these questions
- Demonstrate knowledge of the major functions of a range of brain areas.
- Describe the relationship between the brain and behaviour in typical functioning and in neuropsychological disorders.

Indicative Module Content:

The brain and the nervous system

The big questions in affective, behavioural and cognitive neuroscience

How the brain interacts with the world
- sensation and perception
- the motor system

Higher levels of interaction
-Attention and consciousness
-Memory
-Sleep

Motivated behaviours
-decision making
-emotion
-social perception & cognition

Disorders of brain and behaviour
- traumatic brain injury
- neurodegenerative disorders

Student Effort Hours: 
Student Effort Type Hours
Lectures

18
Specified Learning Activities

18
Autonomous Student Learning

70
Total

106
Approaches to Teaching and Learning:
The teaching and learning approach adopted in this module will be a combination of formal lectures and interactive class activities including case studies. 
Requirements, Exclusions and Recommendations

Not applicable to this module.


Module Requisites and Incompatibles
Incompatibles:
PSY10140 - Mind and Brain


 
Assessment Strategy  
Description Timing Open Book Exam Component Scale Must Pass Component % of Final Grade
Multiple Choice Questionnaire: In class MCQ Week 7 n/a Alternative linear conversion grade scale 40% Yes

40
Examination: Final 1-hour exam.
Short answer questions.		 1 hour End of Trimester Exam No Standard conversion grade scale 40% No

60

Carry forward of passed components
Yes
 
Resit In Terminal Exam
Summer Yes - 1 Hour
Please see Student Jargon Buster for more information about remediation types and timing. 
Feedback Strategy/Strategies

• Online automated feedback

How will my Feedback be Delivered?

Feedback for the online MCQ's i Students will receive feedback in Bright-space with respect to what questions they did not answer correctly.


Eagleman, D., & Downar, J. (2018). Brain and behavior: a cognitive neuroscience perspective. New York: Oxford University Press.

Brain Facts: A primer on the brain and nervous system. https://www.brainfacts.org/the-brain-facts-book


Timetabling information is displayed only for guidance purposes, relates to the current Academic Year only and is subject to change.
 
Autumn
      
Lecture Offering 1 Week(s) - 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10, 11, 12 Mon 13:00 - 13:50
Lecture Offering 1 Week(s) - 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10, 11, 12 Wed 13:00 - 13:50
Autumn