PN4071 Behavioural Neuroscience

Academic year

2024 to 2025 Semester 1

Further information on which modules are specific to your programme.

Key module information

SCOTCAT credits

15

The Scottish Credit Accumulation and Transfer (SCOTCAT) system allows credits gained in Scotland to be transferred between institutions. The number of credits associated with a module gives an indication of the amount of learning effort required by the learner. European Credit Transfer System (ECTS) credits are half the value of SCOTCAT credits.

SCQF level

SCQF level 10

The Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework (SCQF) provides an indication of the complexity of award qualifications and associated learning and operates on an ascending numeric scale from Levels 1-12 with SCQF Level 10 equating to a Scottish undergraduate Honours degree.

Availability restrictions

UG - Available only to students in the second year of the Honours Programme.

Planned timetable

11.00 am - 1.00 pm Thu

This information is given as indicative. Timetable may change at short notice depending on room availability.

Module coordinator

Dr E M Bowman

Dr E M Bowman
This information is given as indicative. Staff involved in a module may change at short notice depending on availability and circumstances.

Module Staff

Dr E M Bowman

This information is given as indicative. Staff involved in a module may change at short notice depending on availability and circumstances.

Module description

The overall aim of this module is to allow students access to current research in the area of behavioural neuroscience. Possible topics include motivation, learning and attention. Past themes explored in the module include: the relationship between 'normal' learning and addiction; the transition from goal-directed action to stimulus-response habit; the neural basis of compulsive gambling; the efficacy of biological treatments of addiction; and the behavioural and neural effects of MDMA ('ecstasy'). Results from both human and animal research will be considered in parallel, with examples of papers ranging from molecular neuroscience to neuropsychology. Weekly workshops will include lectures (which are designed to provide the students with the background necessary to read research articles), guided seminars, tutorials and student presentations summarising research articles.

Relationship to other modules

Pre-requisites

BEFORE TAKING THIS MODULE YOU MUST ( PASS PN2002 OR PASS PS2002 )

Assessment pattern

Coursework - 100%

Re-assessment

Coursework - 100% - Re-assessment applies to failed components only

Learning and teaching methods and delivery

Weekly contact

2-hour seminars plus office hour.

Intended learning outcomes

  • demonstrate the advantages and disadvantages of different methods in behavioural neuroscience
  • identify the strengths and weaknesses of simple journal articles in behavioural neuroscience
  • describe the behavioural and neural relationships between classical and operant conditioning
  • discuss how neuroscience is allowing us to explain paradoxical suboptimal decision-making in economic and social contexts