Unit aim
Provides a thorough understanding of gross brain anatomy, neural functioning, and sensory processing for the professional or academic psychologist. This basic knowledge is supplemented with consideration of the neural mechanisms of memory and learning, communication, and behaviour. In addition, students will engage with aspects of recent research findings that relate to these areas.
Unit content
Structures and functions - Psychopharmacology - Development - Vision - Audition - The body senses - The chemical senses - Learning and memory - Emotion - Human communication - DisordersLearning 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.
Learning outcomes and graduate attributes
| On completion of this unit, students should be able to: | GA1 | GA2 | GA3 | GA4 | GA5 | GA6 | GA7 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | describe and discuss the fundamental theories and systems most relevant to psychobiological processes | Knowledge of a discipline | Communication and social skills | |||||
| 2 | describe the basic anatomy and processes of the central nervous system | Knowledge of a discipline | ||||||
| 3 | describe the processes that form the basis of neural functioning and the contributions made to behaviours by chemicals | Knowledge of a discipline | ||||||
| 4 | relate neural phenomena and the functioning of sensory systems to their roles in human experience | Ethical practice | ||||||
| 5 | critically analyse experimental data and report on conclusions | Ethical practice | Communication and social skills | |||||
| 6 | communicate the substance of psychological explanations in a format consistent with accepted practice in psychology. | Ethical practice | Communication and social skills | |||||
Prescribed texts
Session 2
- Pinel, J, 2010, Biopsychology, 8th edn (International Edition), Pearson, Boston. ISBN: 9780205030996.
Teaching and assessment
Coffs Harbour
| Teaching method |
| Lecture on-site 2 hours (12 weeks) |
| Tutorial on-site 1 hour (11 weeks) |
| Assessment | |
| Quiz | 10% |
| Quiz | 10% |
| Report | 30% |
| Exam: closed book | 50% |
Online
| Teaching method |
| Lecture online 2 hours (12 weeks) |
| Tutorial online 1 hour (11 weeks) |
| Assessment | |
| Quiz | 10% |
| Quiz | 10% |
| Report | 30% |
| Exam: closed book | 50% |
Fee information
Domestic
Commonwealth Supported courses
For information regarding Student Contribution Amounts please visit the Student Contribution Amounts.
Commencing 2014 Commonwealth Supported only. Student contribution band: 1
Fee paying courses
For POSTGRADUATE or UNDERGRADUATE full fee paying courses please check Domestic Postgraduate Fees OR Domestic Undergraduate Fees
International
Please check the international course and fee list to determine the relevant fees.