Biological Influences Course Outline

Biological Influences on Behaviour Course information 2007-8

Biological Influences on Behaviour

Lecturers/Tutors - Dr. Mervyn Gifford (L248), Mr David Main (L238). Professor Stuart Brody. Check NOTICEBOARD for place and time of lectures and seminars as these are sometimes required to be changed to accommodate numbers. ASSESMENT: Coursework has a weighting of 40% and the end of year exam has a weighting of 60%. Coursework consists of one essay All coursework must be accompanied by a signed copy of the pro forma relating to plagiarism. If there is no pro forma, the coursework will not be marked. READING: There is a variety of books and journals on biological psychology available in the library. At third level, you are expected to follow up on topics in journals and not just rely on the reading lists provided. ATTENDANCE: Attendance at lectures AND seminars is vital. Check your handbook for the rules regarding attendance. Finally, if you have any problems with the course at all, please speak to any of the lecturers or tutors.

General Reading List The following books should be useful for this course. They are not all the books on the subject we will cover and I will expect you to find more if you can. However, a good knowledge of the recommended books should get you through! All should be available on either Short Loan or Standard Loan. Kalat, J.T., (2004) Biological Psychology, 8th Edition. Brooks /Cole. Julien, R.M. (2004). A Primer of Drug Action. 10th edition. W.H. Freeman and Company. San Fransisco LeVay, S. (2002). Human Sexuality. Sinauer Associates Inc. Journals: Cognitive Brain Research

Cognitive Neuropsychology Neuropsychology Brain: A journal of Neurology Behavioural and Brain Sciences Journal of Neuroscience Physiology and Behaviour http://www.bmj.com http://www.nature.com

Biological Influences on Behaviour Topics Covered • INTRODUCTION TO BIOLOGICAL PSYCHOLOGY •. NERVE CELLS AND NERVE IMPULSES • ANATOMY OF THE BRAIN AND NERVOUS SYSTEM • LATERALISATION AND HEMISPHERE FUNCTION •THE BIOLOGICAL BASIS OF LANGUAGE • PHYSIOLOGY AND PSYCHOLOGY OF STRESS • PHYSIOLOGY AND PSYCHOLOGY OF SEXUAL BEHAVIOUR • BRAIN DAMAGE • BIOLOGICAL THEORIES OF SCHIZOPHRENIA There will be a revision session at the end of this module. We would like to remind you however, that this session only acts as a guide and as a rule, students are expected to know the whole syllabus in preparation for the examination. Question spotting is undertaken at the students’ own risk.

Biological Influences on Behaviour 2007

Seminar Topics Seminar 1: Brain cells: structure and function Seminar 2: Action Potential Self-Assessment exercise. Seminar 3: Independent Reading. Seminar 4: Biology of stress Seminar 5: Brain Damage

Seminar timetable WEEK LECTURES 1 1+2 2 3+4 3 5+6 4 7+8 5 9+10 6 11+12 7 13+14 8 15+16 9 17+18 10 19+20 11 21+22 12 23+24

SEMINARS

Seminar 1 Seminar 2 Seminar 3. Seminar 4 Seminar 5

BIOLOGICAL INFLUENCES ON BEHAVIOUR SEMINAR 1 BRAIN CELLS – STRUCTURE AND FUNCTION : Learning Outcomes: 1. To encourage thought on why it is necessary to study biological concepts within a psychological degree programme. 2. To gain knowledge of the structure and function of cells within the human nervous system. It is suggested that you work in groups of two or three to answer the following questions. You may consult your class notes or textbooks. Nominate a member of your group to provide some answers at the end of the seminar. Questions: 1. Why should we study biological psychology and what advantages can the study of it bring to our general understanding of psychology? 2. You were given the examples in class of schizophrenia and heart disease as two illnesses than can be understood best by taking account of biological, psychological and sociological factors. Can you think of any others? 3.

Make a list of five ways in which ALL cells in the human body are similar.

4.

In what ways do neurons differ from other cells?