|Year of offer||2017|
|Subject level||Undergraduate Level 3|
|Fees||Subject EFTSL, Level, Discipline & Census Date|
There are more connections in a human brain than there are stars in the universe. This subject focuses on the brain as an integrated system and looks at how its many connected networks achieve coordinated effects, linking the mind to the brain and the body.
In exploring integration across the nervous system, this subject will examine topics such as the effects of neurotransmitters on emotions and behaviour, the nature of sleep and wakeful states and transitions between them, and mechanisms underlying the control of body movement. The connections between social factors and brain function will also be explored, as well as current ethical dilemmas in the field, such as the ethical consequences associated with recent technologies designed to alter our minds, or enhance brain function beyond normal healthy ranges.
At the end of this course students will be able to:
- demonstrate an understanding of the connectivity that exists between the mind and body and the implications of this connectivity in understanding individual aspects of brain function
- identify and explain the mechanisms that ensure coordinated activity and function across the integrated brain
- critically consider ethical consequences of neuroscientific advances that extend beyond the individual to society as well as critically analyse scientific research papers
Students will be given appropriate opportunity and educational support to develop skills to:
- think critically about theoretical and empirical issues in neuroscience and psychology
- integrate evidence from multiple courses relating to the neurobiological basis of human cognition, emotional and social functioning
- identify and consider ethical consequences arising from scientific advances
- locate and use web-based scientific material effectively