Course Outline in Biological Psychology

Psych 62

Course Description: This course acquaints students with the fundamental concepts on the biological
bases of human behavior. It primarily focuses on major topics such as the structure and functions of the
nervous and endocrine systems of the body. Its major emphasis is on the effects of these systems on
cognitions, affects and behavior. Special emphasis is given on trends and updates in neuroscience.

No of units: 3

No. of hours: 54

Prerequisite: Human Anatomy and Physiology

Course Outline:

I. The Nature & Scope of Biological Psychology

A. Understanding the Scope and Nature of Biological Psychology
B. Research Methods in Biological Psychology

II. The Nervous System

A. The Neuron Physiology
B. The Central Nervous system
b.1. The human brain
b.2. Spinal Cord
C. Peripheral Nervous System
D. Brain Damage and Its causes

III. The Endocrine System

A. The Different Glands and their Functions

IV. Mechanisms of Perception, Conscious Awareness and Attention

A. Principles of sensory system organization
B. Cortical Mechanisms of Vision
C. Somatosensation
D. Chemical Senses
E. Selective Attention

V. Animal Models of Human Neuropsychological Disorders

VI. Sensorimotor System

A. Principles of Sensorimotor Function
a.1. Sensorimotor association cortex
a.1.1. Primary motor cortex
b. Secondary Motor System
b.1. cerebellum and the basal ganglia
B. Descending motor pathways
 b.2. sensorimotor spinal circuits
C. Motor Disorders and their Causes

Unit VII. Psychobiology of

A. Human Motivation
a.1 Psychobiology of Hunger and Thirst
B. Neural Mechanisms of sleep
b.1 Circadian clock
b.2 Drugs that affect sleep
b.3 Sleep disorders
C. Human sexuality
c.1. The Human Sexual Response
c.2 Sexual Disorders and their Biological Causes
c.3 Culture and sexual response and practices ( Journal article)

Unit VIII. Psychobiology of Learning and Memory

A. Association areas of the brain
B. Effects of neurological impairment on language and behavior.
C. Neuro-anatomy of memory for object recognition
D. Memory structure

REFERENCES:

Doidge, N. (2007) The brain that changes itself, Penguin Books

Gaerlan, D. & DeLeon, H.(2003), Physiological Psychology, Rex Bookstore

Lovallo, W.R. (2015) Stress and Health: Biological and Psychological Interactions, Sage
Publication

Milner, M. (1997), Physiological Psychology

Pinel, J,P ( 2004) Biopsychology, Allyn Bacon, USA

Walner, N . ( 2007), Biological Psychology: An Introduction to Behavioral and Cognitive

Neuroscience. Sinauer Associate

Internet Resources

Prepared by:

Maria Benita E. Balagan, Ph.D