PSYC5891-1 : Biological psychology

Study Programmes 2016-2017

PSYC5891-1

Biological psychology

Duration :

50h Th

Number of credits :

Bachelor in psychology and education : speech and language therapy		4
Bachelor in psychology and education : general		4
Master in psychology : general (120 ECTS)		4

Lecturer :

André Ferrara

Language(s) of instruction :

French language

Organisation and examination :

All year long, with partial in January

Units courses prerequisite and corequisite :

Prerequisite or corequisite units are presented within each program

Learning unit contents :

Biological psychology is the scientific study of the biology of the behavior. After having defined the biological psychology, we will examine its methodological foundations (methods of studying the nervous system and behavioral research methods). Then we will study the sensory (vision and audition) and sensorimotor systems, as well as several issues related to brain plasticity (development of the nervous system, brain damage and neuroplasticity). Cerebral plasticity induced by learning, memory and brain damages. Biopsychology of motivation (alimentary and sexual behaviors, addiction). Disorders of cognition and emotion (biopsychology of emotion, stress and health; biopsychology of psychiatric disorders).

Learning outcomes of the learning unit :

Focus on behavior: behavioural neuroscience is a team effort and the biopsychologist offers a unique contribution to this effort through its behavioral and cognitive expertise. This course helps the student to understand the interest as well as the limitations of the biological approach of human behaviors.
Through the study of biopsychology, the student will be brought round to: - define the research field of the biopsychology (place within neurosciences, associated disciplines, ...). - understand the methods used in biopsychogy (methods of studying the nervous system and behavioral research methods). - understand the interest of a comparative apporach in the knowlegde development about visual, auditive and sensorimotor systems, brain plasticity, motivation, cognitive and emotional disorders, psychiatric disorders.
The learning outcomes relativley to each chapters of this course will be examined at the end of each lecture.

Prerequisite knowledge and skills :

Notions of Biology and Biological Anthropology (prerequisite) / Physiology of the nervous system (corequisite).

Planned learning activities and teaching methods :

Ex cathedra course.

Mode of delivery (face-to-face ; distance-learning) :

Face-to-face.