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Unit Summary
Unit type
UG Coursework Unit
Credit points
12
AQF level
Level of learning
Advanced
Former School/College
Pre-requisites
BHS11001 - Introduction to Psychology I AND must have completed or be currently enrolled in BHS20008 - Quantitative Methods in Psychology
Unit aim
Provides a thorough overview of the structures and functions of the human brain for the professional and/or academic psychologist. This knowledge is supplemented with consideration of the neural mechanisms of memory and learning, communication, and complex human behaviour. In addition, students will engage with modern neuroscientific research methods and findings and write two research reports related to these areas.
Unit content
- Structure and function of the central nervous system
- Nerve cells and synapses
- Neuropsychopharmacology
- Neuroplasticity
- Vision and audition
- Movement and sensation
- Memory and learning
- Language
Learning outcomes
Unit Learning Outcomes express learning achievement in terms of what a student should know, understand and be able to do on completion of a unit. These outcomes are aligned with the graduate attributes. The unit learning outcomes and graduate attributes are also the basis of evaluating prior learning.
| On completion of this unit, students should be able to: | GA1 | GA2 | GA3 | GA4 | GA5 | GA6 | GA7 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | demonstrate an advanced understanding of the basic anatomy and processes of the central nervous system | |||||||
| 2 | demonstrate an advanced understanding of the processes that form the basis of neural functioning and the contributions made to behaviours by endogenous and exogenous chemicals | |||||||
| 3 | relate neural phenomena and the functioning of sensory systems to their roles in human experience | |||||||
| 4 | critically analyse and interpret experimental data relating to physiological psychology and sensory processes and report on conclusions | |||||||
| 5 | communicate the substance of psychological explanations in a format consistent with accepted practice in psychology | |||||||
| 6 | integrate information about psychobiological structures and processes, human experience, and behaviour | |||||||
On completion of this unit, students should be able to:
-
demonstrate an advanced understanding of the basic anatomy and processes of the central nervous system
- GA4:
- GA6:
-
demonstrate an advanced understanding of the processes that form the basis of neural functioning and the contributions made to behaviours by endogenous and exogenous chemicals
- GA4:
-
relate neural phenomena and the functioning of sensory systems to their roles in human experience
- GA4:
-
critically analyse and interpret experimental data relating to physiological psychology and sensory processes and report on conclusions
- GA3:
-
communicate the substance of psychological explanations in a format consistent with accepted practice in psychology
- GA3:
- GA6:
-
integrate information about psychobiological structures and processes, human experience, and behaviour
- GA3:
- GA6:
Prescribed texts
- This book is available from Cengage as an ebook and SCU Co-op in Lismore as a Hard copy: Kalat, JW, 2019, Biological Psychology, 13th edition, Cengage Learning, Australia. ISBN: 1337 408 204.