For students following the Dutch programme: Bio- en Neuropsychologie
Description
Biopsychology and Neuropsychology studies how cognition and behaviour are controlled by the nervous system and the hormonal system. In addition, the methods by which cognition and behaviour can be measured in patients with psychological and/or neurological disorders will be considered. Knowledge acquired in this course is of great importance for many disciplines within and outside the field of psychology, such as clinical psychology, clinical neuropsychology, cognitive psychology, (behavioural) neurology and psychiatry.
Course objectives
The course will cover:
anatomy of the nervous system
communication at synapses
development and plasticity of the nervous system
movement
sleeping and waking
emotion and stress
learning and memory
cognitive functions
psychological and neurological disorders
research methods in biopsychology and neuropsychology
The course objectives are:
(1) to acquire an understanding of the way in which cognition and behaviour are controlled by the nervous system and the hormonal system;
(2) to introduce methods for the measurement of cognition and behaviour in patients with psychological and/or neurological disorders.
Timetable
Biopsychology and Neuropsychology (2014-2015):
Registration
Course
First year students are automatically enrolled in the courses. Other students need to enroll for lectures and work group sessions. Please consult the Instructions registration
Examination
Students are not automatically enrolled for an examination. They can register via uSis from 100 to 10 calendar days before the date; students who are not registered will not be permitted to take the examination. Registering for exams
Mode of instruction
Eight lectures and four mandatory work group sessions:
1. neuropsychological examination
2. child neuropsychology
3. cognitive and psychiatric disorders in neurological patients
4. functional neuroanatomy
The first four lectures are mainly aimed at providing the student with an understanding of the way in which cognition and behaviour are controlled by the nervous system and the hormonal system (course objective 1). The last four lectures are aimed at obtaining insight intro methods for the measurement of cognition and behaviour in patients with psychological and/or neurological disorders (course objective 2). All work group sessions, specifically ‘functional neuroanatomy’ provide the student with an understanding of the way in which cognition and behaviour are controlled by the nervous system and the hormonal system (course objective 1). The other work group sessions are also aimed at introducing methods for the measurement of cognition and behaviour in patients with psychological and/or neurological disorders (course objective 2).
Assessment
An exam consisting of multiple-choice questions on both the text book (chapters 2, 3, 4, 5, 8, 9, 12, 13, 14 and 15) and the lectures. In addition, there will be three assignments which will be made available on Blackboard during the course. Students will be graded for each assignment (three in total) with a maximum of 5 points. Based on these points a compound grade will be calculated. The students can receive a maximum of 15 points, which will be graded with a ‘10’. The other grades will be calculated in proportion.
The final grade is based on the exam (70%; minimum grade ‘5’) and the average grade for three mandatory assignments (30%; minimum grade ‘5’). Attendance of the work group sessions is mandatory. Absence from up to 25% of the work groups will have a negative effect on the grade for the second unit of assessment (1 point will be subtracted from the compound grade for the assignments).
Course passed = sufficient grade for the exam (minimum grade ‘5’) + sufficient attendance of the work group sessions (attendance of four work group sessions,in case of attendance of three work group sessions 1 point will be subtracted from the compound grade for the assignments) + sufficient compound grade for the assignments (minimum grade ‘5’) and the weighted average 5.5 or higher.
The final grade is rounded to whole and half numbers, except for the 5.50.
For the final grade to be a 5.0 or a 6.0, rounding off rules are:
≥ 4.75 and
Blackboard
For information: Blackboard
Reading
Kalat, J.W. (2014). Biological Psychology (11th edition Cencage Technology Edition). Wadsworth/Cengage Learning. ISBN-13:9781473704732/ ISBN-10:21473704731
Labyrint Book Service
If you are a member of the study association Labyrint you may purchase books at a reduced price via their study book service. Alternatively there are the academic book shops.
Contact
Mw. Dr. F. Nijboer
Room: 2B51
Tel: 071-527 3465 (Mondays and Tuesdays)
E-mail: Biopsy@fsw.leidenuniv.nl
Dr. K. van der Hiele
Room: 2A13A
Tel.: 071-5276642 (Mondays and Fridays)
E-mail: Biopsy@fsw.leidenuniv.nl