PS943-7-SP-CO:
Advanced Brain and Behaviour
2024/25
Psychology
Colchester Campus
Spring
Postgraduate: Level 7
Current
Monday 13 January 2025
Friday 21 March 2025
15
06 November 2023
Requisites for this module
(none)
(none)
(none)
(none)
(none)
MSC C80012 Psychology,
MSC C800JS Psychology
This module addresses how the brain underlies behaviour from the cellular level via the systems level to cognitive and behavioural levels.
The brain is an extremely complex organ, and many areas of interest to psychologists are as yet, beyond the reductionist approach adopted here. However, it is hoped that the module will at least establish the possibility that even our deepest thoughts and feelings arise from a combination of electrical and chemical interactions. In order to do this, this module aims to introduce the physiological mechanisms underlying behaviour and encourage students to consider the possibility that even our deepest thoughts and feelings arise from electrical and chemical activity in our brains.
The aim of this module is:
By the end of this module, students will be expected to be able to:
- Acquire an advanced understanding of the key issues and concepts of biological psychology
- Develop critical thinking skills in evaluating methodological approaches and theoretical accounts in biological psychology
- Develop an advanced understanding of the biological bases of behaviour and cognition
- Develop an advanced ability and understanding of how to present acquired knowledge in an educationally salient way
Main topics cover neuroanatomy, cell physiology, typical and atypical neuropsychology, psychopharmacology, sleep and various socio-cognitive processes (i.e. learning and memory, motor control, emotion).
Lectures start on the hour. Please arrive promptly to avoid disrupting the class. There will be a short break halfway through the class. Please ask questions during class if there is anything that is unclear. A questions forum on Moodle is also provided, in order to facilitate questions that arise outside of lectures. Other extra material is also shared on Moodle in order to encourage an open mind to learning beyond the classroom and a willingness to engage in independent learning.
This module will be delivered via:
- One 1-hour 50-minute session per week.
- Seminars.
Each session will integrate a lecture format with opportunities for self-testing and questions. Issues and points raised in the lecture can also be discussed in online discussion activities and student participation will be encouraged.
Dependent on University guidelines, this module will be taught predominantly face-to-face with some blended learning and online material where appropriate. The Module will provide seminars to support coursework. The Module will provide seminars to support coursework.
This module does not appear to have a published bibliography for this year.
Assessment items, weightings and deadlines
| Coursework / exam |
Description |
Deadline |
Coursework weighting |
| Coursework |
Flyer |
10/03/2025 |
20% |
| Coursework |
Pamphlet |
28/04/2025 |
50% |
| Practical |
Oral Presentation |
14/02/2025 |
30% |
Additional coursework information
Learning outcomes 1, 2 and 3 will be assessed by the oral presentation coursework. Learning outcomes 1, 2 and 4 will be assessed by the essays coursework.
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
Dr Helge Gillmeister, email: helge@essex.ac.uk.
Helge Gillmeister, Steffan Kennett, Elia Valentini, Helge Gillmeister
helge@essex.ac.uk
No
No
Yes
Dr John Patrick Rae
Roehampton University
Reader in Psychology
Available via Moodle
Of 34 hours, 30 (88.2%) hours available to students:
4 hours not recorded due to service coverage or fault;
0 hours not recorded due to opt-out by lecturer(s).
Psychology
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