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PN4071   Behavioural Neuroscience

Academic year(s): 2024-2025

Key information

SCOTCAT credits : 15

ECTS credits : 7

Level : SCQF level 10

Semester: 1

Availability restrictions: UG - Available only to students in the second year of the Honours Programme.

Planned timetable: 11.00 am - 1.00 pm Thu

The overall aim of this module is to allow students access to current research in the area of behavioural neuroscience. Possible topics include motivation, learning and attention. Past themes explored in the module include: the relationship between 'normal' learning and addiction; the transition from goal-directed action to stimulus-response habit; the neural basis of compulsive gambling; the efficacy of biological treatments of addiction; and the behavioural and neural effects of MDMA ('ecstasy'). Results from both human and animal research will be considered in parallel, with examples of papers ranging from molecular neuroscience to neuropsychology. Weekly workshops will include lectures (which are designed to provide the students with the background necessary to read research articles), guided seminars, tutorials and student presentations summarising research articles.

Relationship to other modules

Pre-requisite(s): Before taking this module you must ( pass PN2002 or pass PS2002 )

Learning and teaching methods and delivery

Weekly contact: 2-hour seminars plus office hour.

Assessment pattern

As used by St Andrews: Coursework - 100%


Re-assessment: Coursework - 100% - Re-assessment applies to failed components only

Personnel

Module coordinator: Dr E M Bowman
Module teaching staff: Dr E M Bowman
Module coordinator email emb@st-andrews.ac.uk

Intended learning outcomes

  • demonstrate the advantages and disadvantages of different methods in behavioural neuroscience
  • identify the strengths and weaknesses of simple journal articles in behavioural neuroscience
  • describe the behavioural and neural relationships between classical and operant conditioning
  • discuss how neuroscience is allowing us to explain paradoxical suboptimal decision-making in economic and social contexts