Universitat Internacional de Catalunya
Psychobiology
Other languages of instruction: Catalan, Spanish
Teaching staff
Introduction
In this course you will gain an understanding of the biological/neural basis of a range of psychological and behavioural processes. During the course we will begin by examining the state-of-the-art methods that are used to understand brain activity and relate them to psychological and behavioural phenomena. We will then learn how these methods are used to probe the biological basis of a range of brain functions including perception, attention, sleep and addiction. Finally, we will learn how genes relate to both typical and atypical behaviour and the biological basis of states such as stress and anxiety as well neurodevelopmental disorders.
Pre-course requirements
Basic knowledge of Nervous/Endocrine system
Objectives
- Understand how psychological or behavioural phenomena can be linked with or explained in terms of neural activity and neural circuits.
- Understand how neural activity can be considered on different spatial scales ranging from large populations of neurons to single cells.
- Understand how connections can be formed between genes and behaviour.
- Understand how brain states and rhythms give rise to specific psychological functions.
- Understand the localisation and lateralisation in humans of certain brain functions.
- Understand in biological terms how atypical psychological states associated with drug addiction, stress, anxiety and neurodevelopmental conditions arise.
Competences/Learning outcomes of the degree programme
- Understand the biological/neural basis of key psychological and behavioural processes.
- Transmit in a clear and unambiguous way to a specialised or non-specialised audience, the results of scientific and technological research projects and innovation from the field of the most advanced innovation, as well as the most important concepts which they are based on.
- Understand, critically evaluate and know how to use sources of clinical and biomedical information to obtain, organize, interpret and communicate scientific and health care information.
- Be able to formulate hypotheses, collect and critically evaluate information for problem solving using the scientific method.
- Ability for critical thinking, creativity and constructive skepticism with a focus on research within professional practice.
Learning outcomes of the subject
- Understand the main methods used to measure brain activity during specific psychological processes.
- Understand how the visual pathways of the brain support visual perception.
- Understand the biological correlations of brain states such as attention and sleep.
- Understand how genes can be linked to brain function and behaviour.
- Understand the localisation and lateralisation of some brain functions.
- Understand the biological basis of brain states such as addiction, stress and anxiety.
- Understand the biological basis of the main neurodevelopmental disorders.
Syllabus
Unit 1: Methods in Psychobiology
Unit 2: Visual perception
Unit 3: Brain states and attention
Unit 4: Brain rhythms and sleep
Unit 5: Genes and behaviour
Unit 6: Lateralisation of brain function
Unit 7: Drug addiction and substance abuse
Unit 8: Stress, anxiety and neurodevelopmental disorders
Teaching and learning activities
In blended
Lecture (Master class, CM): Explanation or discussion of a theoretical topic by the instructor, during 50 minutes.
Evaluation systems and criteria
In blended
40% partial test, 10% attitude and participation and 50% final test.
- 40% - Partial test: multiple choice test. This test includes all the subject taught up to the class prior to the test.
- 10% - Attitude and Participation in class. Participation, initiative and attitude during lectures will be evaluated.
- 50% - Final test: multiple choice test. Includes all the material seen in class. It is essential to pass this test in order to pass the subject.
To pass the subject you must obtain a minimum of 5 in the final exam.
Bibliography and resources
Principles of Neural Science. Kandel, Schwartz, Jessell, Siegelbaum y Hudspeth. Editorial McGraw Hill, 2012 (5ª ed.)
Neuroscience : exploring the brain. Bear, Mark F. Philadelphia : Wolters Kluwer, cop. 2016
Physiology of Behavior (Fundamentos de fisiología de la conducta). Neil R. Carlson, 2010. Madrid : Pearson Educación
Evaluation period
- E1 04/06/2021 I3 14:00h
- E2 23/06/2021 14:00h