Why Study Biopsychology?

The study of biopsychology gives us a fascinating insight into how brain and biology affect our behaviour and thoughts.  Biopsychology looks at the genetic, biological and developmental factors that influence the way we behave and think.  It is a science that draws its knowledge from psychology, biology, genetics, chemistry and neuroscience. Biopsychology studies the interaction between the brain, body and our behaviour.

With this course, you can find out more about how

• Our anatomy and physiological characteristics affect our psychology.

• At different stages in both a child's and adult's development, aspects of the body's physical nature will change, and the nature of a person's psychology will also change in response to those changes.
• How injuries, illnesses, and physical development can all have an effect on a person’s psychology.

This will enhance your understanding of human behaviour.

Who Is This Course Suitable For?

This course is suitable for anyone who wants to understand more about how our body and brain interact, and how this can affect our behaviour. For example, people working in areas such as addiction, stress, personnel management, training, counselling, medicine.

What Will You Learn in This Course?

Biological psychology examines the mind-body relationship and helps to explain where different faculties and processing systems are located in the brain. It aims to describe how we develop language, how memory works, how we see images, and what happens in our brains when we go to sleep.  During the course, you will learn more about –

• The relationship between the physical body and human mind.
• How the human nervous system and how it affects the way we think, feel and behave.

• The relationship between our physical body on our psychology and thinking.
• The techniques used in studying the human brain.
• Why people behave the way they do from a biological perspective.
• The impact of hormones and other chemicals on mental states and behaviour.
• Learn about how messages are transmitted inside the brain and body, the role of chemicals and hormones, and the detection and interpretation of sensory information.

COURSE STRUCTURE

There are seven lessons in this module as follows:

1. Introduction Types of external and internal stimuli, mind-body debate, introduction to the nervous system.
2. The senses Sensory input, sensory perception, description of the major senses.
3. The Nervous System Description of the neurons, the central nervous system, peripheral nervous system, including the autonomic nervous system.
4. The Endocrine System Effect of hormones on behaviour and physiology, association of endocrine system and nervous system, connection between external and internal stimuli.
5. Stress Types of stressors, physical effects of stress, personality & stress.
6. Emotions Homeostasis, eating disorders, physiological responses to emotions, theories of emotion.
7. Consciousness Degrees of consciousness, awareness & attention, altered states of consciousness.

Aims

• Explain what is meant by the mind-body debate and consider various theories.
• Explain how different people can perceive the same stimulus in different ways, due to biological differences between them.
• Explain how the condition and functioning of the nervous system can affect the psychology of an individual.
• Explain the function of sensory and motor neurons.
• Explain the functioning of the cerebellum, the hypothalamus and the thalamus.
• Identify which brain structures are present in the limbic system, and their main functions.
• Explain how dopamine, norepinephrine and epinephrine act as neurotransmitters.
• Explain how the condition and functioning of the endocrine system can affect the psychology of an individual.
• Describe the relationship between psychological stress and the physical response of the body.
• Discuss the relationship between emotions and the physical nature of the body.
• Discuss the relationship between consciousness and the physical nature of the body.
• Describe the effect of three psychoactive drugs on the Central Nervous System.
• Explain how the autonomic nervous system works in terms of its sympathetic and parasympathetic divisions.