Overview
Please note: This course is typically offered in the fall term
This course examines the relationship between brain and behaviour. The first part of the course examines topics relevant to brain plasticity, including neurodevelopment, brain damage and learning and memory; followed by sections on the biopsychology of motivation that cover the neural mechanisms of eating, addiction, sexual behaviour and sleep. The final section deals with disorders of cognition and emotion, including stress and psychiatric disorders.
Psychology 370 is a course designed to continue your exploration of the field of Biopsychology. It primarily focuses on the underlying neural mechanisms of some of the most interesting and complex human behaviours. From how the brain develops, to our basic motivations, to how catastrophically the brain can fail us, this course delves into many different aspects of brain and behaviour.
³ÉÈË´óƬ's Department of Psychology has a long history of impressive research in the field of biopsychology.  From labs looking at neuroendocrinology and the neurobiology of anxiety to investigating cognition in psychological disorders, many researchers in the Department are tackling important biopsychological questions through different techniques and perspectives, and more information can be found on the Department of Psychology website as well as through spotlights throughout the course.
Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion of this course students will be able to:
- Outline the primary stages of neural development in humans.
- Describe the process of neuroplasticity and how it relates to learning.
- Summarize current theories on the biopsychology of eating, sleeping, sexual behaviour, and drug addiction.
- Evaluate research findings relating to the biopsychology of motivation, cognition, and emotion.
- Relate principles of biopsychology to an understanding of psychiatric disorders.
Terms
Evaluation
2.5% - Discussion Activity
17.5% - Essay Assignment
25% - Presentation Assignment
5% - Module Quizzes (7 of 9)
50% - Final Proctored Exam
*Evaluation Subject to Change*
Exam Centre Location, Eligibility, and Fees
Students enrolled exclusively in online courses may choose one of two options to write this course's proctored assessments:
You may choose to write the assessments online under supervision of an online proctoring service. A $100 fee will be charged to your SOLUS account. This fee is known as the Off Campus Exam Admin Fee and is applied in SOLUS at the earlier of: term tuition posting date, or the date at which exam writing method is changed to online. The fee is assessed once per ASO course with proctored assessments.
You may choose to write the assessments in-person on Queen's campus in Kingston at no additional charge.
Students enrolled in at least one on-campus course are expected to write this course's proctored assessments on-campus during the scheduled exam time. They will not be permitted to write this course's proctored assessments online.
Students were prompted to indicate their preferred exam writing method when enrolling in the course in SOLUS. The exam writing method may be changed by contacting the ASO Exams Team at aso.exams@queensu.ca.
Information for students writing online assessments
Selected assessments in this course will be administered in onQ using online proctoring provided by a third-party, cloud-based service. This proctoring solution was chosen to support our efforts in maintaining academic integrity when online proctoring is required. Queen's has conducted an extensive privacy and security review of the service and has entered into a binding agreement with terms that address the appropriate collection, use and disclosure of personal information in accordance with Ontario's privacy legislation. To learn more about online proctoring, please see the information provided by the Office of the University Registrar.
If you registered to write online with the service, all information pertaining to the technical requirements and preparation for writing online will be posted in onQ well in advance of your exam.
The use of the service as described is unique to courses offered by the Faculty of Arts and Science Online. Other Faculties use online proctoring solutions in different ways under different regulations. Students should contact the appropriate Faculty examination team if they have questions.
Timing of Final Examinations
The exam period dates for each Term are listed on the Faculty of Arts and Science webpage under "Important Dates". Student exam schedules for the Fall Term are posted to SOLUS immediately prior to the Thanksgiving holiday; for the Winter Term they are posted on the Friday before Reading Week, and for the Summer Term they are individually noted on the Arts and Science Online syllabi. Students should not make any travel plans until after the examination schedule has been posted. Exams will not be moved or deferred to accommodate employment, travel/holiday plans or flight reservations. Students experiencing extenuating circumstances preventing them from writing their exams as scheduled should review the information about the Academic Consideration process.
Textbook and Materials
ASO reserves the right to make changes to the required material list as received by the instructor before the course starts. Please refer to the Campus Bookstore website at to obtain the most up-to-date list of required materials for this course before purchasing them.
Required Textbook
- Biopsychology, 11th Edition, by John P.J. Pinel and S.J. Barnes, eText. As per Pearson's digital first campaign, there will be no physical copies in the bookstore.
Time Commitment
To complete the readings, assignments, and course activities, students can expect to spend, on average, about 10 hours per week (120 hours total) on the course.
Testimonials
"Really well organized, fair assessment of my learning, TAs were phenomenal. They really put a lot of care and thought into this course and it really shows. I am able to work full time and take this course which has been great!"
- Course evaluation, PSYC 370: Brain and Behaviour II (2014)