Biological Psychology II: Functions

6 ECTS credits
150 h study time

Offer 1 with catalog number 1003185BEW for working students in the 1st semester at a (B) Bachelor - advanced level.

Semester

1st semester

Enrollment based on exam contract

Possible

Grading method

Grading (scale from 0 to 20)

Can retake in second session

Yes

Enrollment Requirements

For this course you have to meet certain enrolment requirements. For an overview of the enrolment requirements check https://www.vub.be/en/studying-vub/practical-info-for-students/study-guidance/study-path/individual-study-path#paragraph--id--7164 Students must have taken ‘Biological psychology I: Introduction’, before they can enroll in ‘Biological psychology II: Functions’ Students who are enrolled in a shortened study program can take this course unit. Registration for this course is only possible for working students. Day students can register for courses whose code ends with an R. At Inschrijven / studentenadministratie@vub.be you must be registered at the VUB as a working student for the current academic year.

Taught in

Dutch

Faculty

Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences

Department

Experimental and Applied Psychology

Educational team

Elien Heleven (course titular)

Activities and contact hours

39 contact hours Lecture
15 contact hours Independent or External Form of Study

Course Content

This course gives a general overview of how different (neuro)physiological systems contribute to human behaviour: how does human behaviour relate to biological mechanisms in the body and particularly the brain?

This course offers a general overview of the cardinal processes in the physiology of behaviour, i.e. those involved in perceptual systems, motor systems, learning and memory, sleep and biological rhythms, and stress. The intertwinement of the individual, their environment and the broader evolutionary context runs like a thread through the course.

For a detailed description of course content: see Canvas.

Course material

Handbook (Required) : Physiology of Behavior, Neil Carlson, 13de, Pearson, 9781292430287, 2023
Handbook (Recommended) : Fitzgerald's Clinical Neuroanatomy and Neuroscience, Estomih Mtui, MD, Gregory Gruener, Peter Dockery, 8de, Elsevier, 9780702079092, 2021
Digital course material (Required) : Digitaal cursusmateriaal

Additional info

Study guidance via Canvas forum.

Working methods:
• 39u LEC– for working students, recordings of the collective classes are provided, in addition to an online Q&A.
• 15u SELF: Students get additional self study assignments to deepen their understanding of the course materials.

Basic knowledge of the micro- and macro-structure of the nervous system, evolution and behavioral genetics, as well as research methods in biological psychology, is assumed as a prerequisite. This knowledge is taught in the introductory course "Biological Psychology I". Students who have been granted an exemption from this course but lack the required prior knowledge are expected to acquire this knowledge independently using the handbook.

Learning Outcomes

General competencies

The student can describe the most important mechanisms in behavioural physiology from a psychological perspective.

The student can describe the interactions between the most important mechanisms in behavioural physiology from a psychological perspective.

The student can relate the most important mechanisms in behavioural physiology from a psychological perspective to the evolutionary context in which they evolved.

The student recognizes the importance of the perspective of behavioural physiology for psychology.

Grading

The final grade is composed based on the following categories:
Written Exam determines 100% of the final mark.

Within the Written Exam category, the following assignments need to be completed:

Written exam with a relative weight of 100 which comprises 100% of the final mark.

Note: 100% written exam (multiple choice with higher pass mark)

Additional info regarding evaluation

100% written exam.

The multiple-choice exam will be graded by positive scoring with Higher Pass Mark. No points will be deducted for a wrong answer. On the other hand, getting points by guessing is calculated in the end point by increasing the pass limit (= cut-off score). The cut-off score for the exam and the exact conversion table will be communicated in a timely manner on Canvas and in the exam instructions. The exam strategy is simple because of this method: Do your best on the entire exam, answer questions you don't know or partially know to the best of your ability, without worrying about possible deduction of points.

Allowed unsatisfactory mark

The supplementary Teaching and Examination Regulations of your faculty stipulate whether an allowed unsatisfactory mark for this programme unit is permitted.

Academic context