Biological Basis of Behaviour PSYC2007  - Details

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Later Year Course


Offered By: Department of Psychology
Academic Career: Undergraduate
Course Subject: Psychology
Offered in: First Semester, 2010
Unit Value: 6 units
Course Description:

An introduction to behavioural and systems neuroscience and the brain mechanisms underlying behaviour. Topics will include: general organisation, evolution and development of the nervous system; sensory systems (vision, hearing, somaesthesis and proprioception; balance; and the chemical senses); control of movement; the autonomic nervous system; the hypothalamus and hormonal control; structure and function of the cerebral cortex; and higher order functions such as learning, memory and cognitive processes. Laboratory classes will cover microscopic and macroscopic anatomy of the nervous system, investigations of higher order processing, and experimental approaches to brain and behaviour. At least one of the laboratory classes will be a Problem Based Learning laboratory, where students will research a given topic, working in a group, and present their findings to the rest of the class. 

Indicative Assessment:

6 quizzes (25%), a final exam (45%) a written summary (10%) and a group presentation (20%).

Workload: Two hours of lectures per week and 18 hours of laboratories spread across the semester.
Areas of Interest: Human Sciences, Medical Science, and Psychology
Requisite Statement:

PSYC1003 and PSYC1004 (or PSYC1001) or 24 Group A Science units

Recommended Courses:

There is a strong recommendation that you have either completed BIOL1007 or BIOL1008 prior to entry into PSYC2007. This is not yet a pre-requisite but a strong recommendation.

Majors/Specialisations: Biological Anthropology and Human Sciences
Programs: Graduate Diploma in Psychological Studies and Graduate Diploma in Psychological Studies
Science Group: B
Academic Contact: Dr Brendan O'Brien