Unit convenor and teaching staff |
Unit convenor and teaching staff
Unit Convenor
Anthony Miller
Contact via anthony.miller@mq.edu.au
C3A 410
Mondays 1030 am - 130 pm
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Credit points |
Credit points
3
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Prerequisites |
Prerequisites
[PSYC104(P) and PSYC105(P)] or [(STAT122(P) or STAT170(P) or STAT171(P) or PSY122(P)) and (PSY104(P) or PSYC104(P)) and (PSY105(P) or PSYC105(P))] or [admission to GDipPsych] or [((PSY104(P) and PSY122(P)) or PSYC104(P)) and admission to BA-PsychLLB]
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Corequisites |
Corequisites
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Co-badged status |
Co-badged status
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Unit description |
Unit description
This unit is designed to give students a basic knowledge of central neuronal mechanisms underlying fundamental behaviours and how these behaviours are modified through experience (learning). The first half of the program describes the cytoarchitecture of central and peripheral neurons; the physiological and ionic bases of axonal and synaptic transmission; the overall anatomical organisation of the mammalian brain; and sensory processing. These topics are followed by discussion on the central mechanisms underlying mammalian behaviours, such as motivation and psychopathology. The latter half of the program provides a basic understanding of diverse phenomena in learning and behaviour, including neuronal mechanisms of learning.
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Information about important academic dates including deadlines for withdrawing from units are available at https://www.mq.edu.au/study/calendar-of-dates
On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:
Name | Weighting | Due |
---|---|---|
Topic on-line quiz | 0% | As needed |
Practical report | 30% | 9th September, 2014 |
Mid-Session test | 30% | 9th October, 2014 |
Learning Workbook | 10% | Learning Practicals |
End of Session Test | 30% | 13th November, 2014 |
Due: As needed
Weighting: 0%
Topic on-line quiz (5 questions) covering topics of the past week for early feedback on learning progress.
Due: 9th September, 2014
Weighting: 30%
A 1,500 word practical report (from behavioural experiment, week 2 stream A or week 3 stream B, 30 %) will be due on Tuesday 9th September 2014.
Due: 9th October, 2014
Weighting: 30%
A 45 minute mid-session test (35 multiple choice questions each with five response options) will be held during the scheduled review session (in the lecture theatre) in week 8 (Thursday 9th October 2014) from 11am-12pm or 12pm-1pm. Students will be allocated to one of the one hour timeslots. This paper will examine material covered in the week 1-6 lecture topics, in addition to material from the neuroanatomy practicals (weeks 4-7).
Due: Learning Practicals
Weighting: 10%
Several questions to be answered during (learning) practicals four and five, and submitted to tutors at the end of each practical session for marking.
Due: 13th November, 2014
Weighting: 30%
A 45 minute end of session test (35 multiple choice questions each with five response options) will be held in the scheduled review session (in the lecture theatre) in week 13 (Thursday 13th November 2014) from 11am-12pm or 12pm-1pm. Students will be allocated to one of the one hour timeslots. This paper will examine the material covered in the week 7 and 9-12 lecture topics, in addition to material from the learning practicals (Weeks 9-12).
Classes
Lectures: All lectures will only be provided as topics by video recordings on-line (via iLearn).
Revision sessions: 1 hr/week: Thursday 11am-12pm or 12-1pm X5B T1 (both sessions will also be recorded and available on iLearn).
Practicals: Practicals will be run on weeks 2, 4, 6, 10, 12 (Stream A) and weeks 3, 5, 7, 9, 11 (Stream B) in F9A 164 for biopsychology and C4A 335 for learning (i.e. each student does 5 practicals, one approximately every second week beginning week 2 or 3, depending on which stream they have been allocated):
Monday: 10 am - 12 pm, 12 pm – 2 pm, 2 - 4 pm, 4 - 6 pm
Tuesday: 9 am - 11 am, 11 am - 1 pm, 2 - 4 pm, 4 - 6 pm, 6 - 8 pm
Wednesday: 10 am - 12 pm
Thursday: 9 am - 11 am, 11 am- 1 pm
Students in units which have streamed tutorials will be allocated a stream by the Psychology Office. A draft list will be available in week one of semester and the final list in week three.
Managing Classes: Changes to all units can be done on-line via eStudent. After week 2, no further changes will be entertained unless supporting documentation about the reason for changing is provided and there is space in the tutorial you wish to change into.
Practical Attendance: Students must attend classes otherwise grades may be affected. Students enrolled in the Composite attendance mode can access the iLecture recording of the lecture, but must attend the compulsory practical class.
Required Texts
Kalat, J.W. (2007, 2009 or 2013). Biological Psychology (9th, 10th or 11th ed).
Domjan, M.P. (2005). The Essentials of Conditioning & Learning (3rd ed).
Alloway, T., Wilson, G. & Graham, J. (2012). Sniffy the virtual rat lite. Version 3.0..
Texts are on reserve in the library. Further recommended readings will be suggested during lecture time.
Teaching and Learning Strategy
The unit will be taught weekly through on-line audio and video recordings of unit topics. These topics will be reviewed in 1 x 1 hr session (two streams available Thurs 11am -12pm and Thurs 12pm-1pm) in the lecture theatre. There are also 5 compulsory practical classes (2 hrs each) as listed above.
Lectures: The lectures are designed to introduce students to relevant theories of biopsychology and learning. The reading associated with each lecture topic complements and extends the lecture material. Students should be self-directed in reading and summarising this information, and integrating it with the lectures.
Review Sessions: The review sessions are designed to give all students face-to-face review of the lecture material, with opportunity for question and answer time.
Practicals: Practicals extend lecture material by examining research and practical applications of the more theoretical material covered in lectures.
Week | Lecture Date | Topic | Lecturer | Text | Practical |
1 |
Biopsychology 7 August |
Behavioural Neuroscience: Genetics. |
Wearne |
Kalat. Ch 1 |
NO PRACTICAL |
2 | 14 August |
The Nervous Systems. Brain cells.
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Wearne |
Kalat. Ch 2 & 4 |
Practical One Behavioural Experiment (Stream A) |
3 | 21 August |
Neurophysiology. Neurochemistry. Communication by Receptors. |
Wearne |
Kalat. Ch 2 & 3 |
Practical One Behavioural Experiment (Stream B) |
4 | 28 August |
Neurotransmitters. Neurotransmitter System Dysfunction. |
Baracz |
Kalat. Ch 3, 15 & App A |
Practical Two Neuroanatomy I Kalat Ch. 4 (Stream A) |
5 | 4 September |
Substance Abuse. Addiction. |
Baracz |
Kalat. Ch 3 |
Practical Two Neuroanatomy I Kalat Ch. 4 (Stream B) |
6 | 11 September |
Neurobiology of Learning and Memory. |
Baracz |
Kalat. Ch 13 |
Practical Three Neuroanatomy II (Stream A) |
7 |
Learning 18 September |
Introduction to Learning. Classical Conditioning I. |
Miller |
Domjan Ch 1-4 |
Practical Three Neuroanatomy II (Stream B) |
Mid Semester Break |
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8 |
Mid session test 9 October |
Covers material from lecture topics week 1-6 and Neuroanatomy Pracs 2 & 3 |
Staff |
NO PRACTICAL |
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9 |
16 October |
Classical Conditioning II. Principles and Applications of Classical Conditioning |
Miller | Domjan Ch 4-5 |
Practical Four Learning I (Sniffy) (Stream B) |
10 | 23 October |
Theories of Associative Learning. Introduction to Operant Conditioning. |
Miller |
Domjan Ch 6-7 |
Practical Four Learning I (Sniffy) (Stream A) |
11 | 30 October |
Schedules of Reinforcement. Theories and Applications of Reinforcement |
Miller |
Domjan Ch 8-9 |
Practical Five Learning II (Sniffy) (Stream B) |
12 | 6 November |
Extinction. Punishment. |
Miller |
Domjan Ch 10-13 |
Practical Five Learning II (Sniffy) (Stream A) |
13 |
End session test 13 November |
Covers material from lecture topics week 7, 9-12 and learning practicals 4 and 5 |
Staff |
NO PRACTICAL |
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Assessment Policy http://mq.edu.au/policy/docs/assessment/policy.html
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Grade Appeal Policy http://mq.edu.au/policy/docs/gradeappeal/policy.html
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Disruption to Studies Policy http://www.mq.edu.au/policy/docs/disruption_studies/policy.html The Disruption to Studies Policy is effective from March 3 2014 and replaces the Special Consideration Policy.
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