Course Description
PSYC0022: BIOLOGICAL PSYCHOLOGY
2012/13
Textbook
The course uses a recent book: Breedlove, S. M., Watson N. V. & Rosenzweig, M. R. Biological
Psychology: An Introduction to Behavioral, Cognitive, and Clinical Neuroscience (6th Edition
2010). Sinauer Associates, Inc. Publishers (http://www.sinauer.com/detail.php?id=3242)
Companion website: http://www.biopsychology.com/
Instructor
Dr. Timothea Toulopoulou
Email: timothea@hku.hk
Office: The Jockey Club Tower, the
Centennial Campus, 6/F 665
Office phone: +852 39178927
Consultation hour: Thu 1pm – 2pm (appointment required)
Tutors
Name: David Kwan
Name: Lance Wong
Office: JCT 618
Office: JCT 617
Email: dplk@hku.hk
Email: lancewlw@graduate.hku.hk
Teaching
Tuesday 4.30 - 6.20 pm Podium Centennial Campus (CPD) 328
Tutotials
Wed 10:30, Wed 11:30, Wed 3:30, Thu 09:30, Thu 10:30, Fri 10:30 and Fri 11:30
Course Objectives for Students
This course provides an introduction to biological aspects of behavior. The topics include: the
nervous system; processes of brain maturation; brain development; neuroplasticity, gene
environment/experience interactions; the biological bases of stress, emotion and behavior; the
reward circuits of the brain; cognitive neuroscience and psychopathology. Students will be given
the opportunity to attend a series of 10 2-hour interactive teaching sessions which introduce them
to the main concepts and theories associated with the subject matter of the course. In addition,
there will be a series of tutorials where students will have further opportunity to actively discuss
issues in depth. By the end of this course students should be able to:
•
•
•
Understand well-established theories, findings, and methods in a number of specialized
areas in biological psychology, including functional and structural neuroanatomy and
neurophysiology, the development of the nervous system, neuroplasticity, stress and
emotions, drug addiction and reward, cognition and psychopathology.
Demonstrate knowledge of the relationship between brain structures and functions and
behavior, and reason scientifically.
Discuss current scientific research relevant to the theories in these areas within the
biological psychology field, and how it can be applied to real world problems with
critical thinking.
Timothea Toulopoulou
PSYC0022: BIOLOGICAL PSYCHOLOGY
•
Demonstrate abilities to critically evaluate and appreciate the logic of research design
and methods and the interpretation of findings as they relate to relevant theories in
biological psychology.
Course website
You should be able to access Moodle for this course through your HKU portal once you have
successfully enrolled in the course. If you have any problem accessing Moodle, please contact the
tutors. Note that it is your responsibility to check the website regularly because updated
information about the course will be posted there. In addition, lecture slides will be posted there
before class. Please make your own copies.
Course structure
The course comprises 10 2-hour interactive Teaching sessions, two Quiz modules in weeks 3 and
14, a Midterm Exam in week 7, Self-study week in week 13, and a Final Exam during the
Assessment Period. Each online quiz consists of multiple-choice and fill-in-the-blank questions.
Tutorials
All tutorials are compulsory; there will be 9 tutorials (see the course timetable). The tutorials will
involve reviewing certain aspects of course materials. Active participation is necessary. Tutorials
are held on: Wed 10:30, Wed 11:30, Wed 3:30, Thu 09:30, Thu 10:30, Fri 10:30 and Fri 11:30.
Reference books
-James W. Kalat, Biological Psychology (11th edition, 2013). Wadsworth Publishing.
-John P. J. Pinel, Biopsychology (8th edition, 2011). Pearson Publishing.
-Neil R. Carlson, Foundations of Behavioral Neuroscience (8th edition, 2011). Pearson Publishing.
Plagiarism
A hardcopy and a softcopy are required for all written assignments. The softcopy will be checked
for plagiarism against a database of articles, books, webpages, and essays submitted by students
at HKU and other universities. No credit will be given for an assignment that contains plagiarized
materials. Further penalties will also be applied. These penalties include a zero mark for
participation in course tutorials and a zero mark for the course. Plagiarism will also be reported to
your Faculty for consideration of possible disciplinary action. Please be sure to read this
website to know more about how to avoid plagiarism: http://www.hku.hk/plagiarism/
Timothea Toulopoulou
PSYC0022: BIOLOGICAL PSYCHOLOGY
Timetable
Week
Date
1
22 Jan
2
29 Jan
Topic
Quiz
-Biological Psychology: Introduction
-Functional Neuroanatomy,
Neurophysiology and
Neurochemistry I
The Nervous System: Structure and
Function
-Functional Neuroanatomy,
Neurophysiology and
Neurochemistry II
The Nervous System: Neural signals,
Neurotransmitters and Synapses
Book
Chapters
Tutorial
2-4
No Tutorial
2-4
No Tutorial
2-4
-Neurotransmitters and
Behavior
-Research Methods
- Functional Neuroanatomy,
Neurophysiology and
Neurochemistry III
The Nervous System: Neural signals,
Neurotransmitters and Synapses

3
5 Feb
*Self-study and Open-Book Group
Quiz (covers Chapters 2, 3, 4)
4
12 Feb
19 Feb
Chinese New Year - No class
-Life-span Development of the Brain
7
- Brain Development and
and Behavior
Behavioral Development

Genes x Experience
interaction

Developmental Disorders

Brain Plasticity
5
26 Feb
-The Biology of Emotion and
Aggression
15
-Emotions and the
Nervous System
- Group Presentations
Topic Distribution and
Preparation
6
5 Mar
-The Biology of Stress
7
12 Mar
* Midterm Exam (covers chapters
2, 4, 7, 15)
2, 4, 7,
15
8
19 Mar
- The Reward Circuits of the Brain

Drug Addiction
Pinel 15
Timothea Toulopoulou
15
PSYC0022: BIOLOGICAL PSYCHOLOGY
-Stress and Health
Reward Circuits


Stimulus Reward Learning
Reinforcement Learning
9
26 Mar
-Cognitive Neuroscience I
Learning Memory and Attention
17-18
* Group Presentations
on Perception and
Action



10
2 Apr
-Cognitive Neuroscience II
Language, Hemispheric Asymmetry
and Consciousness
19
11
9 Apr
12
16 Apr
13
14
23 Apr
30 Apr
16
-Psychopathology: Biological Basis
of Behavioral Disorders I
Mood Disorders
16
-Psychopathology: Biological Basis
of Behavioral Disorders II
Schizophrenia
Self-Study week - No class
 Pinel 15
*Self-review and Quiz (covers
16-19
Chapters Pinel 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
15
May 13 Jun 1
Date
TBC
Sensory Processing
Vision
Motor Control
-Cognitive Neuroscience:
Assessment methods
-Psychopathology
-Psychopathology
+Essay due at 4 pm on
3rd May Friday
*Final Exam
(covers Chapters 2, 4, 7, 15, Pinel
15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
* quiz/midterm exam/group presentation/final exam
Timothea Toulopoulou
+ Essay due dates
PSYC0022: BIOLOGICAL PSYCHOLOGY
Assessment
Assessment for this course will be 70% coursework and 30% exam.
The coursework assessment will consist of five parts:
-
Open-Book Group quiz (5%). The open-book group quiz will count 5% of the total mark.
The Group quiz will consist of multiple-choice and fill-in-the-blank questions. It will be
held in class on 5 Feb.
-
A Group Presentation (5% peer and tutor assessment). The group presentation will count
5% of the total mark. Group presentations will be held during the tutorials in Week 9.
-
A midterm exam (20%). The midterm exam will count 20% of the total mark. The
midterm exam will consist of multiple-choice and fill-in-the-blank questions. It will be
held in class on 12 Mar.
-
Quiz (20%). The online quiz will count 20% of the total mark. The online quiz will
consist of multiple-choice and fill-in-the-blank questions; late submission will not be
accepted. It will be held online on 30 Apr.
-
Essay (20%). The essay will count 20% of the total mark. The maximal length of the
essay is strictly 1,500 words. It is due on 3 May at 4 pm. Both the hardcopy and the
electronic copy have to be submitted in time; late submission will not be accepted. Thus
students are strongly advised to submit it well before the deadline.
The exam assessment will consist of a final exam:
-
A final exam (30%). The final exam will count 30% of the total mark. The final exam will
consist of multiple-choice questions, fill-in-the-blank questions, and questions requiring
short responses. It will be held in the Assessment period (May 13-Jun 1), and the exact
date will be confirmed by the Examination unit upon further notice.
Each assessment is designed to assess students’ knowledge of a combination of different course
objectives.
Timothea Toulopoulou
PSYC0022: BIOLOGICAL PSYCHOLOGY
SPRING 2012/2013
Essay
Topic
Please choose one of the following topics:
1. What do we know about the biology of delusions?
2. Can models of reinforcement learning help us to understand the symptoms of
schizophrenia?
3. Discuss the neurobiological research implications of the cognitive models of psychosis.
4. Discuss the role of the mesolimbic dopamine reward circuit in depression.
Length & Format
Formatting requirements:
1. The maximal length of the essay is 1,500 words (excluding the cover page, title, and
references).
2. The actual word count should be noted on the cover page of the report.
3. The essay should be printed on white A4 paper, two sided, long-edge binding. The printed
copy of your paper should be stapled when you turn it in.
4. Use 12-point Times (or Times New Roman) font, make it single spaced, and maintain at least
a 1 inch margin at the top, bottom, left, and right edges of the paper.
5. Use APA-style formatting for references (as the references in the end of the textbook).
5% of the total essay mark will be deducted if the word count exceeds 1,500 words. Be sure
to properly cite any references and sources you use in the essay, such as images, explanations,
histories, etc. The essay has to be written in English; be sure to spell-check and proofread your
paper. You may use bold headings and subheadings, and you may center titles, headings, and
subheadings if you wish. You may use left-justified or fully-justified alignment for the body of
your paper.
Grading
The essay is due on 3 May Friday at 4 pm; the electronic copy has to be submitted online on
Turnitin.com by 4 pm, and the hardcopy should be submitted to the tutor’s mailbox at the General
Office JCT 627. Both hard and electronic copies have to be submitted in time; late essays
will not be accepted. The contents of the hardcopy and the softcopy must be identical. If only
one of the electronic copy and hardcopy is submitted in time, 10% deduction will be applied. You
are being graded on the content of your essay and also on your presentation (the clarity of your
writing and the structure of your paper). If you make your writing clear, proofread for clarity and
grammar, spell-check your paper, and follow the format guideline, you are likely to get a high
grade.
Plagiarism
"A hardcopy and a softcopy are required for all written assignments. The softcopy will be
checked for plagiarism against a database of articles, books, webpages, and essays submitted by
students at HKU and other universities. No credit will be given for an assignment that contains
plagiarized materials. Further penalties will also be applied. These penalties include a zero mark
for participation in course tutorials and a zero mark for the course. Plagiarism will also be
reported to your Faculty for consideration of possible disciplinary action."
Timothea Toulopoulou
PSYC0022: BIOLOGICAL PSYCHOLOGY
SPRING 2012/2013
Powerpoint Group Oral Presentation
Topic
You will be allocated one of the following topics to work on a presentation as a group (4-5
individuals):
1) Explain synesthesia
2) How can visual neuroscience be applied to alleviate some visual deficiencies?
3) Discuss how disorders of muscle, spinal cord or brain can disrupt movement
Group and topic allocation will take place in Week 5 during the tutorial sessions. The
presentations will take place in Week 9, also during the tutorial sessions, and will be peerassessed. All marks will be subject to moderation by the tutors.
The presentation should be no longer than 15-minutes and all students should contribute to all
aspects of the preparation and presentation.
5% of the total Group presentation mark will be deducted if the presentation time exceeds
15 min.
Further details will be circulated in due course.
Timothea Toulopoulou
PSYC0022: BIOLOGICAL PSYCHOLOGY
Marking Scale
80 or above A+
75 - 79
A
70 - 74
A67 - 69
63 - 66
60 - 62
B+
B
B-
57 - 59
53 - 56
50 - 52
C+
C
C-
46 - 49
40 - 45
D+
D
[passing mark for PCP is 50%]
Less than 40 F
A: Excellent (total mark 70 and above): Students demonstrate consistent evidence of achieving
the course objectives and substantial originality in identifying issues and in generating, analyzing,
and communicating arguments.
B: Good (total mark 60-69): Students demonstrate frequent evidence of achieving the course
objectives and originality in defining and analyzing issues and in creating solutions.
C: Satisfactory (total mark 50-59): Students demonstrate evidence of achieving the course
objectives, but some important parts are omitted e.g., misunderstanding of the materials or lack of
critical thinking etc.
D: Poor (total mark 40-49): Students barely demonstrate evidence of achieving the course
objectives; have assembled the bare minimum of information, poorly digested, and not well
organized in presentation.
F: Fail (less than 40): Students fail to achieve the course objectives and demonstrate faulty
understanding of the fundamental concepts.
Timothea Toulopoulou
PSYC0022: BIOLOGICAL PSYCHOLOGY
Online resources
http://www.biopsychology.com/news/
PsycInfo: http://www.apa.org/psycinfo/
Google Scholar: http://scholar.google.com/
HKU Library: http://lib.hku.hk/
The Digital Anatomist (John W. Sundsten, University of Washington)
Features an interactive three-dimensional brain atlas with excellent graphics.
http://www9.biostr.washington.edu/da.html
Neuroscience Tutorial (Diana Weedman Molavi, Washington University School of Medicine)
Comprehensive review of human clinical neuroanatomy, with photos.
http://thalamus.wustl.edu/course
The Whole Brain Atlas (Keith Johnson, Harvard University)
Superb gallery of images of normal and pathological human neuroanatomy.
http://www.med.harvard.edu/AANLIB/home.html
Global Anatomy (Department of Anatomy, University of Wisconsin Medical School)
Large collection of microscopic and gross neuroanatomy images.
http://www.neuroanatomy.wisc.edu
Multimodal Brain Atlases (Arthur W. Toga and Paul Thompson, UCLA School of Medicine)
Descriptions of multimodal brain atlases. Navigate this site to find QuickTime time-lapse videos
of brain cell loss in Alzheimer’s disease and other interactive media from Paul Thompson’s
neuroimaging laboratory.
http://www.loni.ucla.edu/%7Ethompson/whole_atlas.html
http://www.loni.ucla.edu/~thompson/thompson.html
Timothea Toulopoulou
PSYC0022: BIOLOGICAL PSYCHOLOGY