Duration
50h Th
Number of credits
| Bachelor in psychology and education : speech and language therapy | 4 crédits | |||
| Bachelor in psychology and education : general | 4 crédits | |||
| Master in psychology (120 ECTS) | 4 crédits |
Lecturer
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 (biopsychology or behavioral neuroscience) 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 shall study various issues such as :
- Sensory (vision and audition) and sensorimotor systems,
- Several questions 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: biological psychology 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 research methods used in biopsychogy (methods of studying the nervous system and behavioral research methods) with their interests and limitations.
- 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.
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.
Recommended or required readings
Main reference textbooks :
- Pinel and Barnes (2017). Introduction to Biopsychology (10th global edition). PEARSON Education. [Available at the BSV].
- Pinel (2007). Biopsychologie (6e édition). PEARSON Education. [Available at the BSV].
- Breedlove, Rosenzweig & Watson (2012). Psychobiologie (6e édition). De Boeck.
Assessment methods and criteria
Written exam (MCQ).
Work placement(s)
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Organizational remarks
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Contacts
Ferrara André (04/366.22.32 - a.ferrara@ulg.ac.be)