Duration
50h Th
Number of credits
| Bachelor in psychology and education : general | 4 crédits |
Lecturer
Language(s) of instruction
French language
Organisation and examination
Teaching in the first semester, review in January
Schedule
Units courses prerequisite and corequisite
Prerequisite or corequisite units are presented within each program
Learning unit contents
Biological psychology - also referred to as biopsychology or behavioral neuroscience - studies the biological bases of behavior, cognition, and emotion.
The course introduces the discipline through its methodological foundations, detailing the techniques used to study the nervous system and analyze behavior.
The following topics are then explored:
- Sensory systems: organization and functioning of vision and hearing.
- Biopsychology of motivation: biological bases of eating behaviors, sexual behavior, and addiction mechanisms.
- Development of the central nervous system (CNS): typical and atypical neurodevelopment, with an in-depth study of autism spectrum disorder (ASD).
- Memory and neuroplasticity: cellular mechanisms and brain networks involved in learning, memory systems, and amnesia following specific lesions.
- Brain damage and recovery: causes of brain damage, mechanisms of compensatory plasticity, and focus on Parkinson's disease.
- Hemispheric specialization and language: split brain, functional lateralization, and language disorders (aphasias) linked to focal lesions.
Learning outcomes of the learning unit
1) Understanding the field of biological psychology. By the end of the course, the student will be able to:
- situate biological psychology within the broader field of neuroscience;
- identify its connections with related disciplines (neuroanatomy, neurophysiology, ethology, cognitive psychology, psychiatry);
- explain the specific contribution of psychologists to the study of behavior and cognition.
- describe and compare methods used to study the nervous system (lesion studies, brain imaging, psychophysiology, pharmacology, etc.);
- understand methods used to study behavior (behavioral tests, origins of neuropsychological test batteries, observation, experimental paradigms, etc.);
- analyze the strengths and limitations of these psychobiological methods in the study of human behavior.
- explain why comparing different species enhances our understanding of sensory or memory systems;
- understand how comparative approaches contribute to the study of brain plasticity;
- analyze the contributions of comparative research to the understanding of cognitive, emotional, and psychiatric disorders.
- explain how advances in biological psychology influence clinical diagnosis (e.g., biomarkers, neuropsychology, neurobiological models of disorders and dysfunctions);
- describe how these discoveries guide clinical interventions (e.g., adjustment of psychopharmacological treatments, interventions based on neural plasticity, anxiety disorders linked to autonomic nervous system dysfunction);
- understand the limitations of biological approaches in explaining human behavior and in clinical practice.
Prerequisite knowledge and skills
Notions of Biology (prerequisite) / Physiology of the nervous system (corequisite).
Planned learning activities and teaching methods
Ex cathedra course.
Mode of delivery (face to face, distance learning, hybrid learning)
Face-to-face course
Course materials and recommended or required readings
Platform(s) used for course materials:
- eCampus
Further information:
Main reference textbooks :
- Pinel and Barnes (2021). Introduction to Biopsychology (11th global edition). PEARSON Education. Available at the Bibiothèque des Sciences de la Vie, BSV].
- Pinel (2007). Biopsychologie (6e édition). PEARSON Education. Available at the BSV].
- Breedlove, Rosenzweig and Watson (2022). Psychobiologie (3e édition). De Boeck.
- Available at the BSV].
Exam(s) in session
Any session
- In-person
written exam ( multiple-choice questionnaire )
Work placement(s)
/
Organisational remarks and main changes to the course
In general, all communications will go through eCampus. You will also find the PDF files associated with the face-to-face sessions.
Contacts
Ferrara André (04/366.22.32 - a.ferrara@uliege.be)