BSc Psychology

This unit will begin by discussing the basic principles of neuroanatomy, neurophysiology, and neurochemistry to develop an understanding of how these biological factors underlie human brain function impacting subsequent behaviour. The unit will then follow each sensory system (vision, hearing, touch, taste, smell) starting with the firing of receptors that detect physical signals in the environment, building up to higher level processing in the brain and how this links to behaviour. Finally, this unit will explore key aspects of human cognition including attention, memory and language.

This unit will focus on multidisciplinary methodologies and approaches to scientific research within human biological and cognitive psychology.

This is a compulsory Level 4 unit for the BSc Psychology Programme. It provides a foundation for further study at levels 5 and 6.

The unit aims to:

• Provide students with an introduction to human cognition.
• Introduce students to the structure and function of the brain as it affects behaviour.
• Provide students with an overview of how we sense and perceive the world around us, before introducing higher levels of cognition and behaviour.

This unit will be delivered in 24x 2hour in-person interactive lectures (two per week across each week of semester 2). These lectures will include “traditional” lecture delivery of new information but will also be supported by interactive activities to support students understanding of the content, including live demonstrations of the phenomena being studied, discussions and tasks to complete, and live Q&A opportunities.

Lecture content, supplementary reading, optional resources and a monitored discussion board for students to ask questions will be available via the unit Canvas site. Each lecture (that is to be included on the final exam) will provide practice Multiple Choice Questions relating to that content to enable students to test their knowledge of course content. This will provide students will an ongoing measure of their progress and understanding of the content and also serve as revision support for the end of semester exam.

Assignment information will be delivered as part of the lecture content and will also be supplemented by on-demand online materials. There will also be an additional drop-in support session for students to ask any assignment specific related questions and clarify any uncertainties in relation to the coursework assignment.

• Review and assimilate empirical evidence from a range of scientific approaches 
• Recall brain terminology and explain biological processes involved in the nervous system including sensory and motor processes
• Outline and compare the methods used to investigate brain structure and function 
• Outline and compare different methods to study perception and cognition (e.g. neuropsychology, experimental psychology, psychophysics)
• Identify the importance of cognition, and its crucial role in all aspects of the human mind and behaviour
• Describe and explain pathways from sensation to perception in the different sensory modalities
• Outline and interpret research relating to biological and cognitive psychology
• Outline theories of the brain, cognition and perception and how these have emerged and evolved from research finding

• Evaluate theories developed within biological psychology to explain how the brain works and interacts with the body
• Interpret models and theories of cognitive psychology and perception
• Apply knowledge and theories of biological and cognitive psychology to interpret research findings and everyday situations
• Identify the limitations imposed by particular methodologies used within biological and cognitive psychology research

• Collect and organise material from a range of sources (library, internet, electronic databases)

• Discuss and present scientific knowledge in a clear and concise form with due regard to target audience and discipline conventions
• Work and collaborate inclusively in small groups to discuss topics, evaluate outcomes from research and solve problems, bringing together variety of perspectives to reach consensus

See Assessment Methods

• Eysenck, M. W. & Keane, M. T. (2015). Cognitive Psychology: A student’s handbook (7th ed.). East Sussex: Taylor & Francis.
• Carlson, N.R. (2015). Foundations of behavioural neuroscience (9th ed.). East Sussex: Taylor & Francis.
• Goldstein E. B. & Cacciamani, L. (2021.)Sensation and Perception (11th Edition) CengageN.B. Students will be given a code to access an electronic version of textbooks through Kortext