Neuroscience (P)

• Credit value: 15 credits at Level 7
• Convenor: Dr Raffaele Tucciarelli
• Assessment: student marking of three past essays (10%), a two-hour online test (40%) and 1500-word final essay (50%)

In this module we introduce the principles of operation and the outline organisation of the nervous system. Further topics covered in detail include language, hemisphere asymmetries, amnesia, emotion, stress, psychopathology and sensory processes (mainly vision).

Indicative syllabus

• The nervous system
• Memory and amnesia
• Stress
• Vision
• Biological approach to psychopathology
• Reward pathways and addiction
• Gender differences

By the end of this module, you will be able to:

• understand and comment on the biological approach and methods in contemporary neuroscience
• describe methods of information transmission in the nervous system
• understand the overall organisation of the brain
• understand and present evidence on the organisation of such functions as language, memory and visuo-spatial ability in the brain
• evaluate the contributions of the biological approach to an understanding of psychological disorders such as schizophrenia and depression
• understand and reflect the interplay between brain and peripheral nervous system in conditions such as stress
• understand the role of neurotransmitters and neurotransmitter pathways in addictive behaviours.