Biological Bases of Behaviour
The module aims to provide you with a critical understanding of the relationship between brain function and behaviour. You will critically examine the biological bases of a range of behaviours and will consider how research in biological psychology can contribute to the understanding of cognitive function, health and illness. Module content has been developed to meet the requirements of the British Psychological Society (BPS) GBC curriculum as approved by the BPS Membership & Qualifications Board. You'll be introduced to the following key areas: 1) Biological aspects of behaviour; 2) Psychopharmacology and the brain; 3) Evolutionary, developmental and genetic explanations of behaviour; and 4) From the combined study of these areas, the biological basis of certain psychological abnormalities, as well as issues in human neuropsychology and cognitive neuroscience.
On successful completion of the module, you will be able to critically discuss key issues in biological psychology; demonstrate a deep and critical understanding of selected psychological phenomena and associated underlying physiological processes; summarise and critically evaluate key research in psychobiology.
Topics covered may include:
- Biological aspects of behaviour, for example, research methods in biological psychology, the biological basis of learning & memory; the neuropsychology of cognitive phenomena.
- Psychopharmacology - for example, drugs and behaviour, addiction and motivation
- Evolution, genetics and behaviour - for example, evolutionary explanations of behaviour, stress & emotion, genes & behaviour, development of the brain
- History and development of Biological Psychology - for example, the impact of physiology and biology in developing our understanding and explaining psychological processes and concepts.
