PS106-4-SP-CO:
The Social Brain
2024/25
Psychology
Colchester Campus
Spring
Undergraduate: Level 4
Current
Monday 13 January 2025
Friday 21 March 2025
15
28 March 2024
Requisites for this module
(none)
(none)
(none)
(none)
PS103, PS421, PS423
BA 63C2 Psychological Studies,
BA 63C3 Psychological Studies (Including Year Abroad),
BA 63C4 Psychological Studies (Including Placement Year),
BA C801 Psychology (Including Year Abroad),
BA C802 Psychology,
BA C807 Psychology (Including Foundation Year),
BA C810 Psychology (Including Placement Year),
BSC C800 Psychology,
BSC C803 Psychology (Including Year Abroad),
BSC C811 Psychology (Including Placement Year),
BSC C812 Psychology (Including Foundation Year),
BSC C806 Psychology with Cognitive Neuroscience (Including Year Abroad),
BSC C808 Psychology with Cognitive Neuroscience,
BSC C809 Psychology with Cognitive Neuroscience (Including Placement Year),
BSC C813 Psychology with Cognitive Neuroscience (Including Foundation Year),
MSCIC999 Psychology with Cognitive Neuroscience,
MSCICA98 Psychology with Cognitive Neuroscience (Including Placement Year),
MSCICA99 Psychology with Cognitive Neuroscience (Including Year Abroad),
BSC C814 Psychology with Economics,
BSC C815 Psychology with Economics (Including Year Abroad),
BSC C816 Psychology with Economics (Including Placement Year),
BSC C817 Psychology with Economics (Including Foundation Year),
MSCIC998 Psychology with Advanced Research Methods,
MSCICB98 Psychology with Advanced Research Methods (Including Placement Year),
MSCICB99 Psychology with Advanced Research Methods (Including Year Abroad),
BSC C680 Sport and Exercise Psychology,
BSC C681 Sport and Exercise Psychology (including Year Abroad),
BSC C682 Sport and Exercise Psychology (including Placement Year)
How does your brain decide between good and bad? What is the neural basis of moral reasoning? What is the biological basis of anger and aggression? Can we explain psychopathy in terms of differences in brain structure and function? What can neuroscience tell us about whether people should be held accountable for their actions? These are the kinds of the questions that we will investigate in this module, which aims to understand the neural basis of (anti) social behaviour. These questions will be addressed by building knowledge and understanding whilst also developing the skills that psychologists use to research these aspects of human behaviour.
The aims of this module are:
- To provide students with knowledge of the biological basis of social behaviour.
- To develop an understanding of how we study the brain.
- To provide students with the skills and knowledge to answer their own questions about the neural underpinnings of human behaviour.
By the end of this module, students will be expected to:
- Understand the research methods employed in studying the biological basis of human behaviour.
- Summarise and present scientific information to a non-expert audience.
- Demonstrate in-depth understanding of and critical insight into social neuroscience.
- Implement statistical procedures to analyse differences between experimental conditions.
- Understand the similarities and differences between comparing conditions (within-participants) and comparing groups (between-participants).
No additional information available.
This module will be delivered via:
- Nine lectures and six practical lab classes.
- Weekly drop-in support sessions.
Lectures will be focused on answering fundamental questions in social neuroscience. Each question will be addressed by providing background knowledge of the research area before focusing in on specific research questions and findings. These will be used to explain the methodological principles and statistical techniques commonly used in studying the brain. Students will be encouraged to participate in lectures though discussion groups, asking questions, and also through the use of digital interactive platforms. This will ensure that the learning environment is inclusive for all students.
Lab classes will be used to provide students the opportunity to implement the statistical methods that are discussed during the lectures, and also for further discussion.
Drop-in support sessions will provide an additional safety net for students to seek further assistance for anything that they are struggling with. Discussion forums on moodle will provide an additional platform for students to seek additional support and to identify areas that need further explanation.
-
van Goozen, S.H.M., Langley, K. and Hobson, C.W. (2022) ‘Childhood Antisocial Behavior: A Neurodevelopmental Problem’,
Annual Review of Psychology, 73(1), pp. 353–377. Available at:
https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-psych-052621-045243.
-
Casula, A.
et al. (2023) ‘Non-Invasive Brain Stimulation for the Modulation of Aggressive Behavior—A Systematic Review of Randomized Sham-Controlled Studies’,
Life, 13(5). Available at:
https://doi.org/10.3390/life13051220.
-
Knehans, R.
et al. (2022) ‘Modulating Behavioural and Self-Reported Aggression with Non-Invasive Brain Stimulation: A Literature Review’,
Brain Sciences, 12(2). Available at:
https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci12020200.
-
Riva, P.
et al. (2017) ‘Neuromodulation can reduce aggressive behavior elicited by violent video games’,
Cognitive, Affective, & Behavioral Neuroscience, 17(2), pp. 452–459. Available at:
https://doi.org/10.3758/s13415-016-0490-8.
-
Gilam, G.
et al. (2018) ‘Attenuating anger and aggression with neuromodulation of the vmPFC: A simultaneous tDCS-fMRI study’,
Cortex, 109, pp. 156–170. Available at:
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cortex.2018.09.010.
The above list is indicative of the essential reading for the course.
The library makes provision for all reading list items, with digital provision where possible, and these resources are shared between students.
Further reading can be obtained from this module's
reading list.
Assessment items, weightings and deadlines
| Coursework / exam |
Description |
Deadline |
Coursework weighting |
| Coursework |
Class Test |
|
55% |
| Coursework |
Presentation |
|
40% |
| Coursework |
Sona Research Training |
|
5% |
Exam format definitions
- Remote, open book: Your exam will take place remotely via an online learning platform. You may refer to any physical or electronic materials during the exam.
- In-person, open book: Your exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may refer to any physical materials such as paper study notes or a textbook during the exam. Electronic devices may not be used in the exam.
- In-person, open book (restricted): The exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may refer only to specific physical materials such as a named textbook during the exam. Permitted materials will be specified by your department. Electronic devices may not be used in the exam.
- In-person, closed book: The exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may not refer to any physical materials or electronic devices during the exam. There may be times when a paper dictionary,
for example, may be permitted in an otherwise closed book exam. Any exceptions will be specified by your department.
Your department will provide further guidance before your exams.
Overall assessment
Reassessment
Module supervisor and teaching staff
No
No
Yes
Prof Joanne Hudson
Swansea University
Professor
Available via Moodle
No lecture recording information available for this module.
Psychology
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