PSY10060 Brain and Behaviour

Academic Year 2021/2022

Ever wondered what makes you 'tick'? This module provides an introduction to the relationship between brain and behaviour. Although it is a biologically-based course, it does not assume a background in biology or other sciences, and students will be provided with an introduction to the main approaches in neuropsychology. Students will gain an understanding of how the brain is involved in everything we do, whether it be sleeping, learning, or feeling pain.

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. The goal is to demonstrate that the link between brain and behaviour is important for students who are considering further study in psychology, neuroscience, or other biological or health-related areas, but it is also of interest to any student with a general interest in behaviour.

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Curricular information is subject to change

Learning Outcomes:

On completion of this module students should be able to: 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 clinical 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
- neurodevelopmental conditions (e.g., ASD, ADHD)
- traumatic brain injury

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:
PSY10010 - Developmental&Biol Psychology


 
Assessment Strategy  
Description Timing Open Book Exam Component Scale Must Pass Component % of Final Grade
Multiple Choice Questionnaire: MCQ and short answer questions 1 hour End of Trimester Exam n/a Alternative linear conversion grade scale 40% No

60
Multiple Choice Questionnaire: Unseen on-line MCQ and fill in the blank questions Week 6 n/a Alternative linear conversion grade scale 40% No

40

Carry forward of passed components
Yes
 
Resit In Terminal Exam
Spring No
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?

A formative (non-graded) practice on-line exam will be available on the virtual learning environment for a number of days in which the student can obtain on-line automated feedback before the mid-term exam.

Kolb B, Whishaw IQ, Teskey GC. An introduction to brain and Behavior. 6th ed. New York: Worth Publishers; 2019.
Brain Facts: A primer on the brain and nervous system. https://www.brainfacts.org/the-brain-facts-book

Garrett B, Hough G. Brain & Behavior: an introduction to behavioral neuroscience. 5th ed. Thousand Oaks, California: SAGE Publications, Inc; 2018.