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2019/2020

Brain Evolution, Cognition and Intelligence

Code: 102587 ECTS Credits: 6
Degree Type Year Semester
2502443 Psychology OT 4 1

Contact

Name:
Ignacio Morgado Bernal
Email:
Ignacio.Morgado@uab.cat

Use of Languages

Principal working language:
english (eng)
Some groups entirely in English:
Yes
Some groups entirely in Catalan:
No
Some groups entirely in Spanish:
No

Other comments on languages

The basic language will be English, but the power point presentations will be in English and Spanish

Teachers

Marta Portero Tresserra

Prerequisites

Previous basic knowledge in Psychobiology is advisable

Objectives and Contextualisation

This course is aimed at students who already have a previous training in psychobiology. We study the phylogenetic evolution of the nervous system and its relationship with the cognitive processes that make  possible human intelligence. Unlike the classic Physiological Psychology which focuses on how these processes are possible, the present course focuses on why cognitive processes have evolved and have acquired certain characteristics. The course pays special attention to the higher mental activities, such as awareness and self-awareness, the rational control of  behaviour, decisions making, planning the future, intuition and creativity. Many of the subject topics dial also with sexual and gender differences.

Competences

  • Analyse scientific texts written in English.
  • Develop strategies for autonomous learning.
  • Identify, describe and relate the biology of human behaviour and psychological functions.
  • Make systematic reviews of the different documentary sources in psychology to collect, order and classify research data and materials.

Learning Outcomes

  1. Analyse scientific texts written in English.
  2. Analyse, synthesize and summarise information from scientific and professional texts.
  3. Describe the main nerve-, ecological and social-related factors that have conditioned the evolution and development of the nervous systems and intelligence of human beings, especially primates.
  4. Describe the way in which natural and sexual selection operate to establish priorities and adaptive behaviours for organisms.
  5. Develop strategies for autonomous learning.
  6. Handle scientific documentation systems.
  7. Identify and describe the main taxonomies for living beings and their phylogenetic evolution, especially those related to primitives and hominids.
  8. Identify and describe the nature of intelligence and the different types.
  9. Identify, describe and relate the evolution of the brain to psychological processes and intelligence.
  10. Plan a literature search or references, both computerized databases and libraries and newspaper archives.
  11. Relate the anatomical and functional development of the nervous system with different cognitive and behavioral capacities of animals and humans.

Content

Basic concepts of intelligence and evolution of living beings.

Heredability of intelligence.

Hominids evolution.

Evolution of the brain and  the main cognitive capabilities.

Evolution and human behavior: natural selection and sexual selection.

Psychobiology of consciousness.

Methodology

Lecturing by the course teacher

Presentations and discussions in class by the students on specific issues of the course.

An individual written report in which the students answer to a series of questions on the different topics of the program.

Activities

Title Hours ECTS Learning Outcomes
Type: Directed      
Lecturing by the course teacher 36 1.44 1, 3, 4, 5, 7, 9, 8, 11
Type: Supervised      
Presentations and discussions in class by the students on specific issues of the course. 11.5 0.46 1, 5
Type: Autonomous      
Individual written report in which the students must answer to a series of questions on the different topics of the program. 100 4 1, 3, 4, 5, 7, 9, 8, 11

Assessment

The evaluation of the course consists of 3 evidences of learning:

1. Individual written examination on basic concepts of the subject (weight: 30%) (October 9th)

2. Group of students: Oral presentation (15 minutes) of a subject related to the program of the course (weight: 30%) (November 19th and 20th)

3. Individual oral examination on the set of themes of the course in which the student has to present and can consult his or her written report of responses on the different topics of the program (weight 40%) (During November, starting 12th)

Students that make only the two first evidences of learning will have 4,5 as a maximum final mark.

Students with a final mark lower than 5 will have the possibility of a new oral exam to try to overcome the previous deficit. The final mark of the subject will be the one of this exam.

https://www.uab.cat/web/estudiar/graus/graus/avaluacions-1345722525858.html

Assessment Activities

Title Weighting Hours ECTS Learning Outcomes
1. Individual oral examination on the set of themes of the course in which the student has to present and can consult his or her written report of responses on the different topics of the program (October 9th) 30 % 2 0.08 7, 8
2. Group of students: Oral presentation (15 minutes) of a subject related to the program of the course (November 19th and 20th) 20% 0 0 1, 3, 4, 9, 11
3. Individual written examination on basic concepts of the subject (During November, starting 12th) 50% 0.5 0.02 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 6, 9, 8, 10, 11

Bibliography

Allman, J.M. (1999) Evolving brains. Scientific American Library. Edición española “El Cerebro en Evolución”, Barcelona: Ariel, 2003.

Boyd, R. y Silk, J.B. (2003) How human evolved. New York: WW Norton and Co. Inc. Edición  española “Como Evolucionaron los Humanos”, Barcelona: Ariel, 2004.

Dicke U y Roth G (2009) Evolución de la inteligencia. Mente y Cerebro 35.

Inteligencia Viva (1999). Número extraordinario de Investigación y Ciencia, Barcelona.

Morgado I (2006) Emocions i intel·ligència social: Una aliança entre els sentiments i la raó. Barcelona: Mina. Edición castellana “Emociones e inteligencia social: Las claves para una alianza entre los sentimientos y la razón”. Barcelona: Ariel, 2007.

Morgado I (2009) Psicobiología de la consciencia: conceptos, hipótesis y observaciones clínicas y experimentales. Revista de Neurología, 49 (5): 251-256.

Morgado I (2012) Cómo percibimos el mundo: una exploración de la mente y los sentidos. Ariel, Barcelona.