Anglo-americká vysoká škola Biological and Behavioral Psychology
| Název kurzu | Biological and Behavioral Psychology |
| Kód kurzu | PSY201 |
| Popis | This course focuses on the foundational professional skills required in psychological and related professional contexts. Students will learn effective This course introduces students to the brain and its neural and neurochemical mechanisms underlying behavior. It aims to develop students’ ability to understand and analyze how complex behaviors emerge from interactions between biological systems and environmental stimuli, providing a foundation for further studies in behavioral neuroscience and the psychology of motivation. The first part of the course covers the structure and function of the nervous system, neural communication, and the biological basis of sensory processing. Through three thematic units, students learn how neurons transmit information, how electrochemical and molecular mechanisms shape neural activity, and how neurochemical and hormonal systems contribute to behavior. By learning the terminology of neurobiology and building up the understanding of biological concepts in a step-by-step manner, students will come to view psychology from a different, more biological perspective, and will acquire an overview of neuroscience in the process. It also helps students understand the biological mechanisms underlying psychological processes and the interconnections between biological, physiological, and social determinants of mental functioning. The second part of this course explores the neural mechanisms underlying motivated behaviors. Students are introduced to key concepts such as goal-directed behavior, incentive motivation, and the distinction between internal drive states and external incentives. The course examines neuroanatomical and neurochemical systems involved in maintaining homeostasis (e.g., hunger, thirst, temperature regulation, biological rhythms) as well as non-homeostatic motivated behaviors such as sexual behavior, parenting, and aggression. Attention is also given to the neuroscience of reward, pleasure, and drug addiction. |
| Výsledky učení | Po absolvování tohoto kurzu by studenti měli být schopni: – Understand the biology of the brain – Describe the structural and functional organization of the nervous system, including key brain regions, neuronal types, and the role of glial cells in neural communication. – Explain the ionic and synaptic mechanisms underlying neural activity, including the generation of action potentials, membrane potential regulation, and synaptic transmission at both central and peripheral synapses. – Identify and compare the major neurotransmitters and hormones involved in brain function, and describe their roles in chemical signaling, neuroendocrine regulation, and sensory perception. – Understand the role of neurotransmitter systems in motivation and behavior – Define and critically compare different models of motivation and regulatory behavior, including homeostatic and incentive-based theories, and relate them to feeding, drinking, and reproductive behaviors. – Analyze the neural mechanisms underlying biological rhythms and affective states, including sleep regulation, circadian cycles, mood disorders, and thermoregulation. – Evaluate the neurobiological basis of emotion, reward, and addiction, including Dopamine and opioid systems, reinforcement processes, and adaptive vs. maladaptive behavioral outcomes. |
| Škola | School of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences |
| Úroveň | BA |
| Number of credits (US / ECTS) | 3 US / 6 ECTS |