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PS120-15 Neuropsychology & Psychopathology

Department
Psychology
Level
Undergraduate Level 1
Module leader
Friederike Schlaghecken
Credit value
15
Module duration
12 weeks
Assessment
32% coursework, 68% exam
Study location
University of Warwick main campus, Coventry

Introductory description

This module will introduce the biological and methodological basis of current approaches to emotion, language, learning, memory, and psychological disorders

Module web page

Module aims

Taken together, PS121 (Brain and Behaviour), PS120 (Neuropsychology & Psychopathology) and PS122 (Psychology in Context) will provide a general introduction to Psychology designed to support work in the second and third years of the Psychology Honours Degree.
The module has two sections. The first section presents a basic introduction to the neuropsychology of memory, language, and emotion. The second section introduces contemporary psychological and biological approaches to mental illness.

Outline syllabus

This is an indicative module outline only to give an indication of the sort of topics that may be covered. Actual sessions held may differ.

Section 1 will focus on the neuropsychology of learning, memory, language and emotion. Topics will include, for example, memory, memory loss and unlearning; learning from consequences and acquiring skills; the frontal lobes (voluntary behaviour and emotion); fear, emotion and the brain, and hemispheric specialisation & language.
Section 2 will focus on Psychopathology. Topics will include, for example, a historical overview and theoretical perspectives on psychological dysfunction, mood disorders, anxiety disorders, schizophrenia, and borderline & antisocial personality disorder.

Learning outcomes

By the end of the module, students should be able to:

  • Describe the classical theories of emotion and of the emotional brain.
  • Understand Pavlovian threat conditioning and what it tells us about the neural basis of emotion.
  • Describe the cortical areas associated with language and how these relate to language disorders such as aphasia.
  • Understand contemporary psychological and biological approaches to mental illness and place these in a historical context.
  • Understand the types of symptoms seen in anxiety, depressive and psychotic conditions, the biological dysfunction underlying these conditions, and the main treatment approaches.

Indicative reading list

Bear, M. F., Connors, B. W., and Paradiso, M. A. (2016). Neuroscience: Exploring the Brain. Lippincott Williams and Wilkins

Tresilian, J. (2012). Sensorimotor control and learning: an introduction to the behavioral neuroscience of action. Palgrave Macmillan

Kring, A. M., Johnson, S. L., Davison, J. C., & Neale, J. M. (2017). Abnormal psychology: the science and treatment of psychological disorders. John Wiley

View reading list on Talis Aspire

Subject specific skills

Describe in general terms the anatomical and functional organisation of the limbic system.
Understand how memory can be lost and learning can be undone.
Describe the classical theories of emotion and of the emotional brain.
Understand Pavlovian threat conditioning and what it tells us about the neural basis of emotion.
Describe the cortical areas associated with language and how these relate to language disorders such as aphasia.
Understand contemporary psychological and biological approaches to mental illness and place these in a historical context.
Understand the types of symptoms seen in anxiety, depressive and psychotic conditions, the biological dysfunction underlying these conditions, and the main treatment approaches.

Transferable skills

Apply a biologically informed perspective to theory and research in psychology.
Apply a biologically informed perspective to study skills.

Study time

Type Required
Lectures 34 sessions of 1 hour (23%)
Private study 116 hours (77%)
Total 150 hours

Private study description

116 hours guided private study and preparation for assessment

Costs

No further costs have been identified for this module.

You do not need to pass all assessment components to pass the module.

Assessment group D2
Weighting Study time Eligible for self-certification
Online Test 1 16% No

MCQ test covering all materials of lectures 1-9 (week 1-5)

Online Test 2 16% No

MCQ test covering all materials of lectures 10-19 (week 6-10)

Online Examination 68% No

Multiple choice exam

~Platforms - AEP,Moodle


  • Online examination: No Answerbook required
Feedback on assessment

Formative: Moodle Quiz feedback (question-by-questions mark, correct answer, explanation); Feedback & Revision lectures
Summative: Moodle Quiz feedback (overall test mark), Tabula (overall exam mark), Sitebuilder Data Reveal (mark break-down for each test and for the exam)

Past exam papers for PS120

Pre-requisites

Students must have either undertaken PS121 or A-level (or equivalent) Biology

Courses

This module is Core for:

  • Year 1 of UPSA-C800 Undergraduate Psychology
  • Year 1 of UPSA-C804 Undergraduate Psychology with Education Studies
  • Year 1 of UPSA-C802 Undergraduate Psychology with Linguistics

This module is Core optional for:

  • Year 1 of UPHA-VL78 BA in Philosophy with Psychology
  • Year 1 of UIPA-C8L8 Undergraduate Psychology and Global Sustainable Development

This module is Optional for:

  • Year 1 of UPHA-L1CA Undergraduate Economics, Psychology and Philosophy

This module is Unusual option for:

  • Year 1 of UPHA-L1CA Undergraduate Economics, Psychology and Philosophy