Students

PSYN8855 – Neuroanatomy for Neuropsychologists

2021 – Session 1, Weekday attendance, North Ryde

Notice

As part of Phase 3 of our return to campus plan, most units will now run tutorials, seminars and other small group activities on campus, and most will keep an online version available to those students unable to return or those who choose to continue their studies online.

To check the availability of face-to-face and online activities for your unit, please go to timetable viewer. To check detailed information on unit assessments visit your unit's iLearn space or consult your unit convenor.

General Information

Download as PDF
Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit convenor and teaching staff
Heather Francis
heather.francis@mq.edu.au
Jennifer Batchelor
jennifer.batchelor@mq.edu.au
Credit points Credit points
10
Prerequisites Prerequisites
Admission to MClinNeuro
Corequisites Corequisites
Co-badged status Co-badged status
Unit description Unit description
In this unit students explore the human brain, and examine the neuroanatomical and behavioural consequences of brain damage. The unit adopts the standard correlative neuroanatomy approach, discussing development of the nervous system and the anatomy of the mature nervous system (the brain stem and associated structures, diencephalon, and telencephalon; blood supply; white matter pathways; ventricles; and meninges). By the end of the unit students are expected to identify, describe the role of structures of the brain and understand the implications of damage to structures of the brain for neuropsychological practice.

Important Academic Dates

Information about important academic dates including deadlines for withdrawing from units are available at https://www.mq.edu.au/study/calendar-of-dates

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:

  • ULO1: Describe the classification of the nervous system and the history of this classification model.
  • ULO2: Describe the meaning of key terms used in neuroanatomy and neuropsychology.
  • ULO3: Conceptualise the relationship between different components of the same system (e.g., the pyramidal and extra-pyramidal components of the motor system).
  • ULO4: Identify brain structures (including cortical and subcortical structures and blood vessels) and explain what is known about their role in producing behaviour.
  • ULO5: Explain the anatomical basis of the disorders commonly seen in clinical practice and uncommon disorders.
  • ULO6: Understand the implications of brain damage for neuropsychological practice.

Assessment Tasks

Name Weighting Hurdle Due
Final Examination 35% No 31/05/2021
Multiple choice in class test 35% No 26/04/2021
Group Critique of a case study 30% No Weeks 3 - 7

Final Examination

Assessment Type 1: Examination
Indicative Time on Task 2: 36 hours
Due: 31/05/2021
Weighting: 35%

In this one hour exam students will be required to label photographs of brain structures and answer short answer questions.
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Describe the classification of the nervous system and the history of this classification model.
  • Describe the meaning of key terms used in neuroanatomy and neuropsychology.
  • Conceptualise the relationship between different components of the same system (e.g., the pyramidal and extra-pyramidal components of the motor system).
  • Identify brain structures (including cortical and subcortical structures and blood vessels) and explain what is known about their role in producing behaviour.
  • Explain the anatomical basis of the disorders commonly seen in clinical practice and uncommon disorders.

Multiple choice in class test

Assessment Type 1: Quiz/Test
Indicative Time on Task 2: 30 hours
Due: 26/04/2021
Weighting: 35%

Students will complete forty multiple choice questions within one hour
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Describe the classification of the nervous system and the history of this classification model.
  • Describe the meaning of key terms used in neuroanatomy and neuropsychology.
  • Identify brain structures (including cortical and subcortical structures and blood vessels) and explain what is known about their role in producing behaviour.
  • Explain the anatomical basis of the disorders commonly seen in clinical practice and uncommon disorders.

Group Critique of a case study

Assessment Type 1: Presentation
Indicative Time on Task 2: 30 hours
Due: Weeks 3 - 7
Weighting: 30%

As a group exercise of 4 students will present and critique a recently published single case in an interactive manner, for twenty minutes, followed by ten minutes for questions from the cohort.
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Identify brain structures (including cortical and subcortical structures and blood vessels) and explain what is known about their role in producing behaviour.
  • Explain the anatomical basis of the disorders commonly seen in clinical practice and uncommon disorders.
  • Understand the implications of brain damage for neuropsychological practice.

1 If you need help with your assignment, please contact:

  • the academic teaching staff in your unit for guidance in understanding or completing this type of assessment
  • the Writing Centre for academic skills support.

2 Indicative time-on-task is an estimate of the time required for completion of the assessment task and is subject to individual variation

Delivery and Resources

Lectures and practicals will be held from 9am-12pm on Mondays.

Schedule:

Week

Date

Content

Location

Who

1

22nd February

Lecture

01CC 215 

Dr Heather Francis

2

1st March

Lecture

01CC 215 

Dr Heather Francis

3

8th March

Lecture

01CC 215 

Dr Heather Francis

4

15th March

Lecture

01CC 215 

Dr Heather Francis

5

22nd March

Lecture

01CC 215 

Dr Heather Francis

6

29th March

Lecture

01CC 215 

Dr Heather Francis

7

19th April

Lecture

01CC 215 

Dr Heather Francis

8

26th April

Exam

11 Wallys Walk, Rm 230

Dr Heather Francis

9

3rd May

Lecture

Online resources

  

10

10th May

Lecture

Online resources

  

11

17th May

Practical

ASAM

A/Prof Ian Johnson

13

31st May

Exam

01CC 215 

Dr Heather Francis

 

Classes

Lectures will be held on the dates above. Case presentations will be held during the last hour of class (except for the first lecture)

Practical content

Online brain dissection resources will be provided for weeks 9 and 10, which should be completed prior to a practical neuroanatomy session on 17th May. 

Practical at ASAM on 17th May: The lab is a secure area. To allow us to enter as a group please meet at 8:50 am at the latest at the ASAM entrance [building F10A, opposite the Macquarie University  hospital, the building has a large red awning]. 

Worksheets will be provided. It will be helpful to bring something like a clipboard as there are no desks. There are lockers for personal possessions as they cannot be taken into the lab area.

Bring a lab coat if you have one. Disposable gowns and gloves will be provided.

Please wear fully enclosed shoes which cover the dorsal part of the foot (no ballet flats, flip-flops/thongs) and tie long hair back. No photographs or other recording devices are allowed. Follow the  instructions of ASAM staff if you are directed in matters of lab safety, protocol or other matters.   

No eating or drinking (including chewing gum) is permitted in the lab.

Respect for the dead is expected at all times.

Policies and Procedures

Macquarie University policies and procedures are accessible from Policy Central (https://policies.mq.edu.au). Students should be aware of the following policies in particular with regard to Learning and Teaching:

Students seeking more policy resources can visit Student Policies (https://students.mq.edu.au/support/study/policies). It is your one-stop-shop for the key policies you need to know about throughout your undergraduate student journey.

To find other policies relating to Teaching and Learning, visit Policy Central (https://policies.mq.edu.au) and use the search tool.

Student Code of Conduct

Macquarie University students have a responsibility to be familiar with the Student Code of Conduct: https://students.mq.edu.au/admin/other-resources/student-conduct

Results

Results published on platform other than eStudent, (eg. iLearn, Coursera etc.) or released directly by your Unit Convenor, are not confirmed as they are subject to final approval by the University. Once approved, final results will be sent to your student email address and will be made available in eStudent. For more information visit ask.mq.edu.au or if you are a Global MBA student contact globalmba.support@mq.edu.au

Student Support

Macquarie University provides a range of support services for students. For details, visit http://students.mq.edu.au/support/

Learning Skills

Learning Skills (mq.edu.au/learningskills) provides academic writing resources and study strategies to help you improve your marks and take control of your study.

The Library provides online and face to face support to help you find and use relevant information resources. 

Student Services and Support

Students with a disability are encouraged to contact the Disability Service who can provide appropriate help with any issues that arise during their studies.

Student Enquiries

For all student enquiries, visit Student Connect at ask.mq.edu.au

If you are a Global MBA student contact globalmba.support@mq.edu.au

IT Help

For help with University computer systems and technology, visit http://www.mq.edu.au/about_us/offices_and_units/information_technology/help/. 

When using the University's IT, you must adhere to the Acceptable Use of IT Resources Policy. The policy applies to all who connect to the MQ network including students.

Changes since First Published

Date Description
08/02/2021 Two dates were wrong in the previous unit guide schedule (10th May instead of 11th May and 1st June instead of 31st May).

Unit information based on version 2021.02 of the Handbook