Unit convenor and teaching staff |
Unit convenor and teaching staff
Lecturer
Heather Francis
Contact via heather.francis@mq.edu.au
AHH 3.517
By appointment
Lecturer
Jennifer Cornish
Contact via jennifer.cornish@mq.edu.au
Jennifer Cornish
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Credit points |
Credit points
10
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Prerequisites |
Prerequisites
Admission to MClinNeuro
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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 provides an overview of the basic principles of neuropharmacology and explore the human brain, with particular emphasis on the disorders seen in the clinical practice of neuropsychologists and clinical psychologists. It begins with a review of basic principles of neuropharmacology and then covers the major neurotransmitter systems and how they are disordered in brain injury and psychological disorders such as depression, schizophrenia and the anxiety disorders. The unit examines 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. |
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:
Grade descriptors and other information concerning grading are contained in the Macquarie University Assessment Policy.
All final grades are determined by a grading committee, in accordance with the Macquarie University Assessment Policy, and are not the sole responsibility of the Unit Convenor.
Students will be awarded a final grade and a mark which must correspond to the grade descriptors specified in the Assessment Procedure (clause 128).
To pass this unit, you must demonstrate sufficient evidence of achievement of the learning outcomes, meet any ungraded requirements, and achieve a final mark of 50 or better.
Further details for each assessment task will be available on iLearn.
Unless a Special Consideration request has been submitted and approved, a 5% penalty (OF THE TOTAL POSSIBLE MARK) will be applied each day a written assessment is not submitted, up until the 7th day (including weekends). After the 7th day, a grade of ‘0’ will be awarded even if the assessment is submitted. Submission time for all written assessments is set at 11.55pm. A 1-hour grace period is provided to students who experience a technical concern.
For example:
Number of days (hours) late |
Total Possible Marks |
Deduction |
Raw mark |
Final mark |
1 day (1-24 hours) |
100 |
5 |
75 |
70 |
2 days (24-48 hours) |
100 |
10 |
75 |
65 |
3 days (48-72 hours) |
100 |
15 |
75 |
60 |
7 days (144-168 hours) |
100 |
35 |
75 |
40 |
>7 days (>168 hours) |
100 |
- |
75 |
0 |
For any late submissions of time-sensitive tasks, such as scheduled tests/exams, performance assessments/presentations, and/or scheduled practical assessments/labs, students need to submit an application for Special Consideration.
Name | Weighting | Hurdle | Due |
---|---|---|---|
Neuropsychopharmacology essay | 30% | No | 28/04/2024 |
Final examination | 40% | No | 28/05/2024 |
In class test | 30% | No | 19/03/2024 |
Assessment Type 1: Essay
Indicative Time on Task 2: 20 hours
Due: 28/04/2024
Weighting: 30%
Students submit a 1500 word essay on a contemporary neuroscience and psychopharmacology topic.
Assessment Type 1: Examination
Indicative Time on Task 2: 30 hours
Due: 28/05/2024
Weighting: 40%
In this one hour exam students will be required to label photographs of brain structures and answer short answer questions.
Assessment Type 1: Quiz/Test
Indicative Time on Task 2: 41 hours
Due: 19/03/2024
Weighting: 30%
Forty multiple choice questions in 1 hour
1 If you need help with your assignment, please contact:
2 Indicative time-on-task is an estimate of the time required for completion of the assessment task and is subject to individual variation
Lectures and practicals will be held from 9am-12pm on Tuesdays. Face-to-face lectures and the lab practical are an essential part of PSYN8845. All students are therefore required to come to campus to participate in these sessions and complete the associated in-class assessment tasks. If you are unable to attend a lecture or the lab session in person due to unavoidable reasons (quarantine, illness, etc.), you should apply for Special Consideration through AskMQ. Reasonable adjustments will be made for students with approved special consideration.
Recommended readings
Blumenfeld Neuroanatomy through clinical cases, 3rd Edition (2022)
Practical content
A practical neuroanatomy session will be held on 21st May.
The lab is a secure area. 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.
Week |
Date |
Topic |
Lecturer |
1 |
20th February |
Review of basic physiology & pharmacology |
Prof Jennifer Cornish |
2 |
27th February |
Substance Abuse, Schizophrenia | Prof Jennifer Cornish |
3 |
5th March |
Anxiety, Affective Disorders | Prof Jennifer Cornish |
4 |
12th March |
ADHD, Autism | Prof Jennifer Cornish |
5 |
19th March |
In-class examination (on week 1-4 inclusive) |
|
6 |
26th March |
Neuroplasticity, Alzheimer’s Disease |
Prof Jennifer Cornish |
7 |
2nd April |
History of neuroanatomy/neuropsychology, General organisation of the brain, Neuroimaging |
A/Prof Heather Francis |
8 |
9th April |
Protection for the brain, Brainstem structures and function, the Cranial Nerves |
A/Prof Heather Francis |
9 |
30th April |
Subcortical brain regions |
A/Prof Heather Francis |
10 |
7th May |
The Cortex |
A/Prof Heather Francis |
11 |
14th May |
Blood supply to the brain, Development of the CNS |
A/Prof Heather Francis |
12 |
21st May |
Practical |
Dr Jessica Madden |
13 |
28th May |
In-class examination (on week 6-12 inclusive) |
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In the Faculty of Medicine, Health and Human Sciences, professionalism is a key capability embedded in all our courses.
As part of developing professionalism, students are expected to attend all small group interactive sessions including clinical, practical, laboratory, work-integrated learning (e.g., PACE placements), and team-based learning activities. Some learning activities are recorded (e.g., face-to-face lectures), however you are encouraged to avoid relying upon such material as they do not recreate the whole learning experience and technical issues can and do occur. As an adult learner, we respect your decision to choose how you engage with your learning, but we would remind you that the learning opportunities we create for you have been done so to enable your success, and that by not engaging you may impact your ability to successfully complete this unit. We equally expect that you show respect for the academic staff who have worked hard to develop meaningful activities and prioritise your learning by communicating with them in advance if you are unable to attend a small group interactive session.
Another dimension of professionalism is having respect for your peers. It is the right of every student to learn in an environment that is free of disruption and distraction. Please arrive to all learning activities on time, and if you are unavoidably detained, please join activity as quietly as possible to minimise disruption. Phones and other electronic devices that produce noise and other distractions must be turned off prior to entering class. Where your own device (e.g., laptop) is being used for class-related activities, you are asked to close down all other applications to avoid distraction to you and others. Please treat your fellow students with the utmost respect. If you are uncomfortable participating in any specific activity, please let the relevant academic know.
Unit information based on version 2024.02 of the Handbook