What Will You Learn in This Course?
In this course you will learn about the more complex interactions between brain and behaviour and what happens when things go wrong.
- Learn more about the fascinating field of biopsychology.
- Understand more about how our biology and physiology affects how we think.
- The effects of brain damage and drugs on behaviour.
- The higher cognitive functions of memory and language.
COURSE STRUCTURE
There are 7 lessons in this course:
- Evolution, Genetics and Experience
- Research Methods in Biopsychology
- Brain Damage
- Recovery from Brain Damage
- Drug Dependence and the Brain
- Memory
- Language
Each lesson culminates in an assignment which is submitted to the school, marked by the school's tutors and returned to you with any relevant suggestions, comments, and if necessary, extra reading.
WHAT YOU MAY DO IN THIS COURSE
- Viewing behaviour as part genetic and part experiential.
- Discuss how human behaviour is linked to evolution.
- Explain how dominant traits are passed on to offspring by genetics.
- Describe the relationship between gene expression and the genetic code.
- Consider how studies of identical twins shed light on the development of differences among individuals?
- Explain how CT and PET scans are used to obtain images of the brain.
- Determine what invasive research methods have been employed to try and understand the brain and behaviour?
- Consider how drugs are used to understand neurotransmitters and their effect on behaviour?
- Explain how gene knockout and gene replacement techniques are used.
- Outline methods of neuropsychological testing.
- Determine how studying animal behaviour in the laboratory can be useful in understanding human behaviour.
- List and define the most common causes of brain damage.
- Explain the significance of neuron death.
- Explain what happens during neural regeneration and neural degeneration?
- Determine the function of slow and rapid neural reorganisation in the mammalian brain?
- Determine the extent of neurotransplantation of replacement parts in the brain.
- Explain the relationship between physical dependence on drugs and withdrawal syndrome.
- The extent that neural mechanisms seemingly involved in addiction.
- Determine what medial temporal lobe amnesia tell us about implicit and explicit memory?
- Consider cerebral dominance through language lateralisation and left and right-handedness.
- Consider evidence that suggests that the hemispheres of split-brain patients function independently.
- Identify what we now know about lateralisation of function in the left and right hemispheres.
- Evaluate the Wernicke-Geschwind model of cortical localisation of language.
During the course, you will learn more about the Brain
Given its overwhelming complexity, the human brain is best understood in terms of its different areas and what they do. Of course, each brain area doesn't act merely by itself, they interact with each other. However, by understanding the different parts we can begin to put together an overall picture of brain biology and function.
The brain and the spinal cord make up the central nervous system (CNS). The brain itself may be divided into the hindbrain, midbrain and forebrain. The hindbrain and midbrain are mainly concerned with our basic life support functions such as breathing, regulation of blood pressure, and so on. The forebrain is responsible for higher brain functions such as our memory and language processes.
The forebrain is where many complex brain processing takes place. It is the centre for memory and learning, as well as motivation and is therefore the area of the brain of most interest to psychologists. In mammals the forebrain is proportionally larger than the hindbrain and midbrain. In fish and reptiles have proportionally larger hindbrains and midbrains. Primates have very large forebrains.
This course helps you to understand the "physical" nature of the brain, and its many parts, primarily in humans; and through this understanding, your perspective and understanding of human psychology will be both broadened and deepened significantly.
Given its overwhelming complexity, the human brain is best understood in terms of its different areas and what they do. Of course, each brain area doesn't act merely by itself, they interact with each other. However, by understanding the different parts we can begin to put together an overall picture of brain biology and function.
The Structure of the Brain
The brain and the spinal cord make up the central nervous system (CNS). The brain itself may be divided into the hindbrain, midbrain and forebrain. The hindbrain and midbrain are mainly concerned with our basic life support functions such as breathing, regulation of blood pressure, and so on. The forebrain is responsible for higher brain functions such as our memory and language processes.
The forebrain is where many complex brain processing takes place. It is the centre for memory and learning, as well as motivation and is therefore the area of the brain of most interest to psychologists. In mammals the forebrain is proportionally larger than the hindbrain and midbrain. In fish and reptiles have proportionally larger hindbrains and midbrains. Primates have very large forebrains.
What Are the Advantages of Studying Biopsychology With ACS Distance Education?
- You can start at any time to suit you.
- The courses are self-paced.
- You can study when and where suits you. They are flexible to fit in around you and your lifestyle.
- It is not just a course, it is a package of learning that includes – course notes, tutor feedback, self-assessment tests, research tasks and assignments.
- Our tutors are all experts in their field, with years of experience in psychology and counselling.
- They are also keen and enthusiastic about their subject and enjoy working with students to improve their knowledge and skills.
- Courses are also updated regularly to meet the demands of the changing needs for knowledge and to keep our courses up to date.
Why Study This Course?
This course builds on studies undertaken in Biopsychology I and assumes students have some understanding of brain structures and functions.
This course may be studied by itself or as part of a certificate or higher-level course. It will be of most interest to those in the health care fields, such as Psychology, Psychotherapy, Teaching, Research, Biological sciences, Health sciences and Health professions.
What Next?
You can enrol today by clicking the “Enrol Now” button above.
Or
Click here to Contact a Psychology Tutor.
Or Request a Prospectus Here.