UnitLevel 2Undergraduate

PSY2061 Biological psychology

Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences

PSY2061 Biological psychology is a level 2, 6-credit-point, undergraduate unit from the Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences, offered in 2021 in Summer A and Semester 1 at Clayton and Malaysia. It needs PSY1022 and PSY1011 and unlocks 1 unit.

Credit points
6
Offered in 2021
Summer A, Semester 1
Clayton, Malaysia
Assessment
No exam
3 tasks

This is the 2021 handbook entry. See the 2027 entry.

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Requisites

Before PSY2061

After PSY2061

1 unit list PSY2061 as a prerequisite or corequisite.

Enrolment rules

Prohibitions: PSY2031, PSY2051

Overview

This unit explores how human behaviour is underpinned by physiological and neural processes. Building on first-year psychology, you develop your knowledge of the structures and functions of the nervous system in the context of human behaviour, both in healthy and clinical populations (i.e., people with brain damage, psychiatric syndromes, etc). You will develop your understanding of how neural systems support functional systems (e.g., movement, mood, perception, and cognition). Using clinical populations as an example, you will develop understanding of how damage, developmental anomalies, and neurodegeneration underpin changes in behaviour and everyday function. A quantitative methods module integrated into the unit will enable you to gain understanding and practical experience applying statistical techniques to research questions in Biological Psychology.

Offerings in 2021

Teaching periodCampusMode
Summer semester AClaytonDe
First semesterClaytonOn campus
First semesterClaytonDe
First semesterMalaysiaOn campus

Assessment

  • Research report (2,000 words)
    25%
  • Quantitative Evaluation in Neuroscience Exercises (3x60 mins Moodle test) (10% x 3)
    30%
  • End of semester assessment (2xEAQs - 1,000 words each - open book take home assessment - 12 hours)
    45%

Learning outcomes

When you finish this unit, you should be able to:

  1. 1

    Explain and answer questions about the general structure and function of the nervous system.

  2. 2

    Relate neuroanatomical and neurophysiological processes to domains of behaviour (e.g., cognition, emotion, movement and sensation).

  3. 3

    Describe how neurophysiological processes are related to key topics of clinical psychology (e.g., addiction, depression, schizophrenia, sleep disorders).

  4. 4

    Apply basic elements of research methods often used in the wider domain of biological psychology

  5. 5

    Explain and apply basic elements of statistics which form the basis of research skills used in biological psychology.

Workload and teaching

  • Tutorials12 hours
  • Lectures24 hours
  • Seminars6 hours
  • Teaching approachOnline learning
  • Teaching approachActive learning
  • Teaching approachSimulation or virtual practice
Lecture attendance: 2 hours per week
Seminar attendance: 6 hours total
Tutorial attendance: 2 hours per fortnight
Preparation: 8 hours background reading/preparation for lectures, seminars, tutorials, and assessment tasks per week.
Attendance at tutorials is recommended in order to successfully complete in-class activities and related assessment tasks.

Learning resources

Required resources

Allen, P., & Bennett, K. (2019) SPSS statistics: A practical guide (4th ed). Cengage Learning

Biopsychology, 10th Edition, Pinel, P. J. and Barnes, S. J., Pearson Education Ltd, 2018

Findlay, B. (2019). How to write psychology research reports and essays (8th ed.). Frenchs Forest, Australia: Prentice-Hall.

Findlay, B. (2019). How to write psychology research reports and essays (8th ed.). Frenchs Forest, Australia: Prentice-Hall.

Biopsychology, 10th Edition, Pinel, P. J. and Barnes, S. J., Pearson Education Ltd, 2018

Allen, P., & Bennett, K. (2019) SPSS statistics: A practical guide (4th ed). Cengage Learning

Where it fits

PSY2061 is part of 4 areas of study in the 2021 handbook.

Contacts

Chief Examiners
Professor Julie Stout
Unit Coordinators
Mr Jake Hoskin
Associate Professor Alexandre Schaefer

Common questions

What are the prerequisites for PSY2061?

You need PSY1022 and PSY1011 before you enrol. Enrolment rules also apply.

What can I take after PSY2061?

PSY2061 is a prerequisite or corequisite for 1 unit, including PSY2071.

When is PSY2061 offered?

In 2021, PSY2061 runs in Summer A and Semester 1 at Clayton and Malaysia.

Does PSY2061 have an exam?

No. PSY2061 has 3 assessment tasks and no exam.

Which majors and minors include PSY2061?

PSY2061 is part of Behavioural commerce and Psychology.

More details

Credit points
6
Level
2
Study level
Undergraduate
Faculty
Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences
Organisational unit
Psychology
Type
Coursework
EFTSL
0.125
Student contribution
SCA Band 4
Study abroad
Not available