Biological Bases of Behaviour III

Justification

The main role of a psychologist is to understand and predict human behaviour. This subject provides students with an insight into Basic Motivators and Emotions, their general features, determining variables, and particularly, the Psychobiological Processes involved. Understanding these processes and others related to them, will promote professional development in any of the applied fields of Psychology.

Subject competencies

Generic competence: GC1: LEARNING ORIENTATION:

to incorporate the learning proposed by the lecturer, actively endeavouring to understand and assimilate what is taught. Strategically and flexibly utilising learning in accordance with objectives, based on recognition of how one learns and on awareness of learning per se (relating new information to previous mental schema and utilising the new schema generated).

Specific competences:

SC1: To assess peripheral physiological responses triggered by a laboratory experimental situation, applying the specific knowledge about methodology and data collection on this discipline.

SC2: To appreciate multidisciplinary work as enriching and complementary, applying in the design of assessment and intervention strategies the perspective of any discipline related with biopsychology.

SC3: To design assessment and intervention strategies based on physiological mechanisms that underlie the main biopsychological variables. 

Course content

Unit 1: Physiological psychology and psychophysiology - Defining characteristics - Differences in terms of methods, subjects and variables - The physiological recording

Unit 2: PAIN - Different approaches of pain - Ascending and descending pain pathways - Pain diagnosis and treatment

Unit 3: Thirst and intake behavior - Thirst control - Intake behavior regulation - Anorexia and bulimia nervosa

Unit 4: sexual behavior mechanisms of control - Neuroendocrine system: sexual hormones regulation - Male and female sexual organs and characteristics development - Sexual and reproductive behavior - Sexual identity and orientation

Unit 5: Sleep and dreaming - Sleep phases and circadian cycles - Sleep deprivation consequences

Unit 6: Emotions - Emotional pattern responses - Communication of emotions - Feelings

Unit 7: Drug addictions and Neurotransmitters