Universitat Internacional de Catalunya
Psychobiology
Other languages of instruction: Catalan, Spanish
Teaching staff
To schedule meeting, please contact the professor via email
Soleil García Brito: sgarciab@uic.es
Neus Galofré: ngalofre@uic.es
Introduction
In this course you will gain an understanding of the biological/neural basis of a range of psychological and behavioural processes. During the course we will begin by examining the state-of-the-art methods that are used to understand brain activity and relate them to psychological and behavioural phenomena. We will then learn how these methods are used to probe the biological basis of a range of brain functions including perception, attention, sleep and addiction. Finally, we will learn how genes relate to both typical and atypical behaviour and the biological basis of states such as stress and anxiety as well neurodevelopmental disorders.
Pre-course requirements
Basic knowledge of Nervous/Endocrine system
Objectives
- Understand how psychological or behavioural phenomena can be linked with or explained in terms of neural activity and neural circuits.
- Understand how neural activity can be considered on different spatial scales ranging from large populations of neurons to single cells.
- Understand how connections can be formed between genes and behaviour.
- Understand how brain states and rhythms give rise to specific psychological functions.
- Understand the localisation and lateralisation in humans of certain brain functions.
- Understand in biological terms how atypical psychological states associated with drug addiction, stress, anxiety and neurodevelopmental conditions arise.
Competences/Learning outcomes of the degree programme
- CB01 - Students must demonstrate that they have and understand knowledge in an area of study that is based on general secondary education, and it tends to be found at a level that, although it is based on advanced textbooks, also includes some aspects that involve knowledge from the cutting-edge of their field of study.
- CB03 - Students must have the ability to bring together and interpret significant data (normally within their area of study) to issue judgements that include a reflection on significant issues of a social, scientific and ethical nature.
- CB04 - That students can transmit information, ideas, problems and solutions to specialist and non-specialist audiences.
- CE04 - To identify the foundations of human behaviour and the biological basis that regulates it.
- CG01 - To be aware of basic biological concepts and language specific to biomedical sciences and health status.
- CG11 - To be aware of basic concepts from different fields connected to biomedical sciences.
- CT01 - To develop the organisational and planning skills that are suitable in each moment.
- CT02 - To develop the ability to resolve problems.
- CT03 - To develop analytical and summarising skills.
- CT04 - To interpret experimental results and identify consistent and inconsistent elements.
- CT05 - To use the internet as a means of communication and a source of information.
- CT06 - To know how to communicate, give presentations and write up scientific reports.
- CT07 - To be capable of working in a team.
- CT08 - To reason and evaluate situations and results from a critical and constructive point of view.
- CT09 - To have the ability to develop interpersonal skills.
- CT10 - To be capable of autonomous learning.
- CT11 - To apply theoretical knowledge to practice.
- CT12 - To apply scientific method.
- CT13 - To be aware of the general and specific aspects related to the field of nutrition and ageing.
- CT14 - To respect the fundamental rights of equality between men and women, and the promotion of human rights and the values that are specific to a culture of peace and democratic values.
Learning outcomes of the subject
- Understand the main methods used to measure brain activity during specific psychological processes.
- Understand how the visual pathways of the brain support visual perception.
- Understand the biological correlations of brain states such as attention and sleep.
- Understand how genes can be linked to brain function and behaviour.
- Understand the localisation and lateralisation of some brain functions.
- Understand the biological basis of brain states such as addiction, stress and anxiety.
- Understand the biological basis of the main neurodevelopmental disorders.
Syllabus
- Unit 1: Methods in Psychobiology
- Unit 2: Visual perception
- Unit 3: Brain states and attention
- Unit 4: Brain rhythms and sleep
- Unit 5: Genes and behaviour
- Unit 6: Lateralisation of brain function
- Unit 7: Stress, anxiety and neurodevelopmental disorders
Teaching and learning activities
In person
Lectures: 50-minute presentation on a theoretical topic by the teacher. Visual support is used in power point format to help to understand the explanations.
Clinical cases or case methods (CM): statement of a real or imaginary situation. Students work in small groups on the questions posed by the teacher (or in interaction with the teacher) and the answers are discussed. The teacher interacts with the students and, if necessary, explains new concepts. In these classes, discussions will include content that examines the topics covered in lectures in greater depth or explores new topics. The CMs have the same importance and the same weight as questions in the final exam.
Virtual education (VE): online material available on Moodle, that the student can access from any computer, at any time, and that will contribute to the self-learning of concepts related to the subject. The virtual material is part of the content of the subject and will be evaluated in the final exam.
Evaluation systems and criteria
In person
40% partial test, 10% coursework and 50% final exam.
- 40% - Partial exam: multiple choice exam. This exam includes all the subject taught up to the class prior to the exam.
- 10% - Coursework including grade for presentation and other work in case methods classes.
- 50% - Final exam: multiple choice exam. Includes all the material seen in class. It is essential to pass this exam (or the second call of the final exam) in order to pass the subject.
Students in second call: will do an exam in June or July that will count for 90% of the final grade. This will be combined with the partial test grade (5%) and coursework (5%) as described above. The maximum grade for those entering the second call will be 7.
Students in 3rd and 5th call (those repeating) are able to retain the partial exam grade and coursework grades, or repeat these if they prefer.
To pass the subject you must obtain a minimum of 5 in the final exam or second call of final exam and a minimum overall grade of 5 (when including coursework and partial exam).
Bibliography and resources
Principles of Neural Science. Kandel, Schwartz, Jessell, Siegelbaum y Hudspeth. Editorial McGraw Hill, 2012 (5ª ed.)
Neuroscience : exploring the brain. Bear, Mark F. Philadelphia : Wolters Kluwer, cop. 2016
Physiology of Behavior (Fundamentos de fisiología de la conducta). Neil R. Carlson, 2010. Madrid : Pearson Educación
Evaluation period
- E1 23/05/2025 A08 16:00h
- E2 02/07/2025 I3 14:00h