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BIOLOGICAL PSYCHOLOGY PSY 204
Full Course Title:
Biological Psychology
Biološka psihologija
Course Code:
Course Level/BiH cycle:
ECTS credit value:
PSY 204
I cycle; 1st year
6
Student work-load:
For the whole semester:
Length:
Faculty/School/Department:
Lectures
Tutorial /
Practical training
Project
Individual
learning
TOTAL
40
30
20
60
150
Fall 2013
FASS;
Social and Political Sciences Department
Course leader:
Assoc. Prof. Dr Senija Tahirovic/Senior Assistant Alma Jeftic
Contact details:
Office:
F2.23
e-mail:
ajeftic@ius.edu.ba
Office hours:
Monday from 2 p.m.
to 4 p.m.
Phone:
033 957 306
Thursday from 2 p.m.
to 4 p.m.
Or by appointment
Site:
Lectures: IUS main campus building – F2.3
Tutorial: IUS main campus building – F2.3
Host Study Program:
Department for Social and Political Sciences
Course status:
Required course for Psychology students
Pre-requisites:
PSY103 Introduction to Psychology
Access restrictions:
I cycle students only
Assessment:
Exams, group projects, individual project.
Date validated:
October 4, 2013
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Course aims:
Learning outcomes:
The aims of this course are to:

Provide students with the basic concepts associated with human nervous system and
its functioning;

Inform students of major discoveries in the area of biological psychology;

Enable students to understand and apply basic principles and theories of biopsychology
On successful completion of this course IUS student will be able to:


Indicative syllabus content:
Learning delivery:
Explain and identify major terms from the area of biopsychology;
Question currently existing dichotomies from the area of biopsychology and philosophy
of science;

Illustrate structure of human nervous system and interpret functions of particular
regions and/or parts;

Explain and identify principles of structure and functioning of nervous and endocrine
system, as well as neural basis of cognition, emotion, motivation, learning and memory.
Biological psychology is a study of brain, mind and behavior. During this course, students will be
taught to distinguish among major biopsychological theories as well as recent discoveries in this
area. Brain researchers are motivated to understand behavior and to provide answers to the
following questions: How do cell circuits enable us to read and speak? How and why do we form
relationships? How do we think, remember, despair, or motivate?
During this course students will be exposed to the recent developments in the area of
biopsychology and trained to recognize and apply these discoveries to the large area of
psychology.
This course employs a range of teaching and learning methods
Lectures with slide, video, websites presentations and documentary movies, combined with class
discussions, test reviews, analyses and guidance in realisation of learning outcomes.
Consultations with staff should be used to its maximal potentials since individuals have different
background and learning styles. Regular homework assignments will guide students’ individual
learning and students’ progression in acquiring required knowledge and practice will be
additionally checked through midterm and final exams.
Assessment Rationale:
Exams in form of tests, individual and group presentations, assignments
Active participation in class meetings demonstrating critical analysis of course materials – test,
readings and/or screenings
In order to attract the attention of the students into the offered courses during the semester,
midterm is given and also assignments and presentations are asked. These tasks will encourage
the students to study harder during the semester time. Final exam is given at the end and will
cover the learning outcomes.
Assessment Weighting:
Individual Paper:
10%
Group Project I:
10%
Group Project II:
10%
Midterm exam:
30%
Final exam:
40%
TOTAL
Essential Reading:

100 %
Pinel, J.P.J. (2011). Biopsychology (8th edition). Pearson. (all but 12, 13, and 14
chapter)
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
Recommended readings:
Pinel, J.P.J. (2008). The Anatomy of the Human Brain (2nd edition). Pearson. –
CNS atlas
Additional/recommended reading:

Aleixo, P., Baillon, M. (2008). Biological Psychology. An Illustrated Survival
Guide. John Willey and Sons.
Intranet web reference:
N/A
Important notes:
At IUS Open Day active involvement of students is highly appreciated
Course policies:
Assignments: Each student should complete their assignment in certain time. According
to the assignment students take help from the lecturer on his/her office hours.
Lateness in Assignments: The due date and time for each homework assignment will be
specified on the assignment handout itself. Late assignments will not be accepted.
Academic Integrity: Any cheating on examinations or quizzes or offering the work of
another as one's own in an assignment is regarded as a serious offence to the academic
integrity and will lead to a ZERO for the assignment grade, or serious disciplinary actions,
including possible suspension.
Collaboration in Assignments: Students are encouraged to work together on presentation
assignments, to the extent that it helps promote a productive learning environment for all
those involved.
Important dates:
Midterm exam: 8th week
Final exam: 16th week
Quality assurance:
Student surveys, discussion on course, student appeals, e-mails, direct (formal) feedback at the
end of the semester by students, assistants and other colleagues
Course schedule:
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Wee
k
1
2
Lesson
/ Date
7 Oct
Topics to be covered
Introductory lecture
Presentation of course
outline
Class activities
Lab activities
Problems/
Assignments
(Homework)
Readings
Learning objectives
(After this lesson
student will be able to:)
Textbook
overview
Literature overview
14 Oct
(Kurba
n
Lecture on relation
Bayra
between biopsychology
m) –
and other disciplines of
lectur What is Biopsychology
neuroscience, divisions of
e
biopsychology and
postpo
biopsychological approach
ned
to:
-
4 case studies
(analysis)
Pinel,
Identify the purpose
J.P.J.(2011).
of the course
Biopsycholo
th
gy (8
edition).
Pearson.
Critical thinking
about
Pinel,
J.P.J.(2011).
biopsychological
claims: Jose and Biopsycholo
gy (8th
the Bull; Becky,
edition).
Monitz and
Pearson.
prefrontal
Chapter 1
lobotomy
Identify relation
between
biopsychology and
other disciplines of
neuroscience, as
well as how
biopsychologists
work
19 Oct
4
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3
4
Group discussion:
Thinking about the
Evolutions, Genetics, and
21 Oct
biology of behavior: From
Experience
dichotomies to
interactions
28 Oct
Anatomy of the Nervous
System
Neural Conduction and
Synaptic Transmission
Lecture and presentation
of general layout of the
nervous system, cells of
the nervous system, and
major structures of the
brain
Genes and
behavior
Genetics of
human
Pinel,
J.P.J.(2011).
physiological
Biopsycholo
differences:
gy (8th
interaction of
edition).
genetics and
Pearson.
experience (case Chapter 2
study approach)
A colorful
introduction
exercise:
Pinel, J.P.J.
Human brain –
(2008). The
CNS atlas
Anatomy of the
Human Brain (2nd
edition).
Pearson. Chapter
2, 3
Analyze and
question major
dichotomies in the
area of biological
psychology
Pinel,
J.P.J.(2011).
Biopsycholo
gy (8th
edition).
Pearson.
Chapter 3
Aleixo, P.,
Baillon, M.
(2008).
Biological
Psychology.
An
Illustrated
Survival
Guide. John
Define, recall and
recognize the major
elements of nervous
system and describe
its function
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Willey and
Sons.
5
6
Short review of research
methods in psychology
The Research Methods of
4 Nov
and presentation of
Biopsychology
research methods in
biopsychology
11
Nov
The Visual System
How light enters retina,
translation of light into
neural signals, from retina
to primary visual cortex
Short quiz
Chapter 5
A colorful
introduction
exercise:
Human eye –
atlas
Seeing edges – seeing
color
7
18
Nov
Perception
Biopsychology of
perception, hearing,
touch, smell, taste and
Pinel,
J.P.J.(2011).
Review of major
Describe major
Biopsycholo
research
th
gy (8
research methods in
methods in
edition).
biopsychology
psychology
Pearson.
Optical illusions
Pinel,
J.P.J.(2011).
Pinel, J.P.J.
Biopsycholo
(2008). The
gy (8th
Anatomy of the
edition).
nd
Pearson.
Human Brain (2
edition).
Chapter 6
Pearson. Chapter
8
A colorful
introduction
exercise:
Identify and
illustrate
biopsychology of
vision
Pinel,
Compare and
J.P.J.(2011). contrast mechanism
Biopsycholo
of different senses
gy (8th
6
C-1
edition).
Pinel, J.P.J.
Pearson.
(2008). The
Anatomy of the Chapter 7
Human Brain (2nd
edition).
Pearson. Chapter
8, 9
attention
Optical illusions
8
9
25
Nov
(Natio
nal
Day of
BiH)
(exam
is
postp
oned
to 26
Nov)
MIDTERM EXAM
2 Dec
The Sensorimotor
System
Three principles of
sensorimotor function,
sensorimotor brain areas
Brain areas and
senzorimotor
functions -
Pinel,
The Ebbinghaus J.P.J.(2011).
illusion
Biopsycholo
gy (8th
Illustrate the
biological basis of
sensor motor
7
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edition).
Pearson.
exercise
functioning
Chapter 8
A colorful
introduction
exercise:
10
9 Dec
Development of the
Nervous System
Brain Damage and
Neuroplasticity
Phases of
neurodevelopment
Learning, Memory, and
11 16 Dec
Neuroanatomy of memory
Amnesia
Definition of
phases
Case study –
anterograde
amnesia
Pinel,
J.P.J.(2011).
Pinel, J.P.J.
Biopsycholo
gy (8th
(2008). The
edition).
Anatomy of the
Pearson.
Human Brain (2nd
Chapter 9,
edition).
10
Pearson. Chapter
4
internalize basic
concepts nervous
system development
and neuro plasticity
Pinel,
J.P.J.(2011).
Formal
Biopsycholo Describe biological
gy (8th
assessments of
basis of memory and
edition).
amnesia
forgetting
Pearson.
Chapter 11
12 23 Dec
Hormones and Sex
Neuroendocrine system,
hormones and sexual
Conection
between
Pinel,
Sexual
J.P.J.(2011).
orientation and Biopsycholo
Identify biological
basis of
neuroendocrine
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development of brain and hormones and
behavior
behavior – case
studies
Sleeping, Dreaming and
13 30 Dec
Circadian Rhythms
14
6 Jan
Lateralization,
Language, and the Split
Brain
Four areas of brain
involved in sleep
The left brain and the
right brain of language
Dreaming –
reasons and
neurological
basis
sexual identity
th
gy (8
edition).
Pearson.
Chapter 13
Effects of longterm sleep
reduction
Pinel,
Apply and differ
J.P.J.(2011).
Biopsycholo different theoretical
gy (8th
approaches on
edition).
sleeping and
Pearson.
dreaming
Chapter 14
Pinel,
J.P.J.(2011).
Biopsycholo
Language, brain
Differences
gy (8th
and decision- between left and
edition).
making
right hemisphere Pearson.
Chapter 16
15 13 Jan
Biopsychology of
Emotion, Stress, and
Health
Biopsychology of fear
system and neural
mechanisms of brain
and behavior
Pinel,
J.P.J.(2011).
What can we do
in order to
Stress and health Biopsycholo
gy (8th
reduce stress?
edition).
Pearson.
Interpret and
illustrate
differences
between left and
brain hemisphere
Explain biological
basis of fear and
stress
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Chapter 17
16
16.01.
2014
Final exam
Final examination
10