University of St Andrews

Key information

SCOTCAT credits : 15

ECTS credits : 7

Level : SCQF level 10

Semester: 1

Availability restrictions: BSc Hons Neuroscience students have priority on this module

Planned timetable: Lectures: Week(s) 1- 5 & 7, 10 & 11 Fri 2-4pm. Practical 1 Week 2 Thu 11-1pm. Practical 2 Week 8 Thu 2-5pm. Practical 3 Week 9 Fri 2-5pm

Predators and their prey are locked in an evolutionary arms race which continuously refines and improves the abilities of predators to locate and capture prey and of prey to detect and evade predators. The resulting selective pressure has produced spectacular adaptations in both the nervous systems and the anatomy of the animals concerned. This, combined with the usually unambiguous motivation of the animals involved in predator-prey interactions (eat or starve, escape or be eaten) has made such adaptations favoured targets for study by neuroscientists, behavioural scientists and bio-mechanicists. Students on this course will undertake a sense of guided case studies researching the primary literature, and the course will also include some hands-on laboratory demonstrations. The aim ls both to uncover some general principles of neural and biomechanical organisation, and also to reveal the variety and ingenuity with which evolution has found different solutions to shared problem

Relationship to other modules

Pre-requisite(s): Before taking this module you must pass BL2101

Learning and teaching methods and delivery

Weekly contact: Up to six hours of one-to-one or small group tuition.

Scheduled learning hours: 39

Guided independent study hours: 110

Assessment pattern

As used by St Andrews: 50% Course Work, 50% Written Exam

As defined by QAA
Written examinations : 50%
Practical examinations : 0%
Coursework: 50%

Re-assessment: 50% Course Work, 50% Written Exam

Personnel

Module coordinator: Dr M F Zwart
Module teaching staff: Dr Maarten Zwart, Prof Keith Sillar, Dr Bill Heitler