Fundamentals of Psychobiology I
Code: 102607 ECTS Credits: 6| Degree | Type | Year | Semester |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2502443 Psychology | FB | 1 | 1 |
Contact
- Name:
- David Costa Miserachs
- Email:
- david.costa@uab.cat
Teaching groups languages
You can check it through this link. To consult the language you will need to enter the CODE of the subject. Please note that this information is provisional until 30 November 2023.
Teachers
- Margalida Coll Andreu
- David Costa Miserachs
- Marcos Pallarés i Añó
- Meritxell Torras Garcia
- Jordi Silvestre Soto
- Soleil García Brito
Prerequisites
No prerequisites are required.
Objectives and Contextualisation
This subject is considered basic and compulsory within the Degree in Psychology at the UAB.
The course aims to provide the necessary knowledge of physiology of the neuron and neurochemistry to study the relationships between the behavioural processes and their biological substrate in the subsequent subjects of the area of Psychobiology. The purpose is that the students should be able to understand and correctly use the terminology of the subject, and demonstrate knowledge of:
1. The main characteristics of neurons and glial cells.
2. The characteristics of the nervous impulse and its conduction.
3. The characteristics of the synaptic transmission and of the neurotransmitters.
Competences
- Identify, describe and relate the biology of human behaviour and psychological functions.
- Students must have and understand knowledge of an area of study built on the basis of general secondary education, and while it relies on some advanced textbooks it also includes some aspects coming from the forefront of its field of study.
- Use different ICTs for different purposes.
- Work in a team.
Learning Outcomes
- Discover the main components of nerve tissue and explain the basic structural, ultrastructural and molecular characteristics of nerve cells and different types of synapses.
- Explain the characteristics of the nerve impulse and its conduction.
- Explain the main characteristics of synaptic transmission and the best-known systems of substance transmission.
- Explain what psychobiology is and how it is related to the rest of psychology.
- Students must have and understand knowledge of an area of study built on the basis of general secondary education, and while it relies on some advanced textbooks it also includes some aspects coming from the forefront of its field of study.
- Use different ICTs for different purposes.
- Work in a team.
Content
UNIT 1. The Cells of the Nervous System.
UNIT 2. Excitability and Neuronal Conductivity.
UNIT 3. Synaptic Transmission.
UNIT 4. Transmitting substances.
Methodology
The teaching methodology is based on different training activities. Depending on the case, master classes (1/1), practical sessions (1/2), workshops (1/4), supervised and autonomous activities will be performed.
Type: directed
- Master classes (whole group): weekly sessions where the contents of the subject will be explained
- Classes in small groups (1/2 and 1/4): sessions with a reduced number of students to work on the contents of the subject through different activities such as problem-solving or practical exercises.
Type: supervised
- Tutoring sessions (online and classroom attendance) to solve doubts.
Type: autonomous
- Search for documentation and preparation of the basic and complementary material of the subject (study materials available through the virtual campus, textbooks of the subject, monographs and articles).
- Self-assessment exercises.
- Preparation of a part of the syllabus corresponding to neurotransmitters.
- Study of basic concepts of the subject (creation of scripts, concept maps, synthesis, etc.).
Annotation: Within the schedule set by the centre or degree programme, 15 minutes of one class will be reserved for students to evaluate their lecturers and their courses or modules through questionnaires.
Activities
| Title | Hours | ECTS | Learning Outcomes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Type: Directed | |||
| Master classes (whole group) | 31.5 | 1.26 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 |
| Practical sessions (1/2 group) | 16 | 0.64 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7 |
| Workshops (1/4 group) | 4 | 0.16 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7 |
| Type: Supervised | |||
| Tutoring sessions | 11 | 0.44 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 |
| Type: Autonomous | |||
| Neurotransmitters unit preparation | 9 | 0.36 | 3, 5 |
| Reading of texts, monographs and papers | 10 | 0.4 | 5 |
| Search of information on journals, books and internet | 10.5 | 0.42 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 |
| Self-evaluation exercises | 2 | 0.08 | 1, 2, 3, 5 |
| Study | 53.5 | 2.14 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 |
Assessment
Evaluation activities
The evaluation is continuous and is based on 3 learning evidences. The final grade will be obtained based on the weighted average of the learning evidences:
- Learning evidence 1. EV1:
- Open questions about the nervous system cells and the physiology of the neuron. Unit 1 and 2.
- Timing: First assessment period.
- Learning evidence 2, EV2:
- Evaluating activities to be delivered via moodle
- Schedule will be established for every group
- Learning evidence 3, EV3:
- Test and/or open questions of all the units (unit 1, 2, 3 and 4).
- Timing: Second assessment period.
Subject passed: The subject is considered passed when the weighted average of the learning evidences is equal or greater to 5.
Single assessment
The request for a single evaluation implies the waiver of the continuous evaluation. To access the single assessment, you must submit a reasoned request to the center within the set deadlines.
The single assessment will be carried out on the same day and place as the test of the second assessment period of the subject and all the contents of the subject will be assessed.
The two partial exams corresponding to evidence EV1 and EV3 will be carried out, plus the delivery of the activities of EV2 corresponding to the enrolled group. Duration 6 hours. The final grade of the subject will be obtained as described for the continuous assessment.
Reassessment tests
All the information regarding reassessment is valid both for students who have followed the continuous assessment and for those who have followed the single assessment.
Reassessment test can be done only by those students who:
- have not achieved the established criteria to pass the subject and have a score greater than or equal to 3.5 points. That is, the final grade must be less than 5 and equal or equal to 3.5 points.
- have previously been evaluated in activities whose weight equals to a minimum of 66.6% parts of the total grade of the subject.
Definition of “Not-assessable student”
Students who have not performed any of the assessment tests or have completed learning evidences with a weight lower than 40% for the whole subject will be marked as “Not evaluable”
Students registered for the subject for the second (or more) time
Assessment Activities
| Title | Weighting | Hours | ECTS | Learning Outcomes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Learning evidence 1 | 30% | 1 | 0.04 | 1, 2, 4 |
| Learning evidence 2 | 20% | 0 | 0 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 6 |
| Learning evidence 3 | 50% | 1.5 | 0.06 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 6 |
Bibliography
Basic bibliography:
Mark F. Bear, Barry W. Connors, Michael A. Paradiso (2016) Neurociencia:Explorando el cerebro, 4a edición. Barcelona: Wolters Kluwer.
Neil R. Carlson (2018). Fisiología de la conducta, 12 a edición. Madrid: Pearson Educación. (Tema 1, Tema 2, Tema 3 i Tema 4. Capítulo 2. Estructura y funciones de las células del sistema nervioso). (online access UAB library)
Neil R. Carlson (2017). Physiology of behavior, 12 ed. Pearson (Accés online a través biblioteca UAB)
Juan Antonio García-Porrero Pérez, Juan Mario Hurlé González (2015). Neuroanatomía Humana. Madrid: Editorial Médica Panamericana. (Tema 1: Capítulo 1: componentes celulares y organización funcional del tejido nervioso). (online access UAB library)
Eric J. Nestler, Steven E. Hyman, David M. Holtzman, Robert C. Malenka (2017). Neurofarmacología molecular. Fundamentos de neurociencia clínica, 3e. Madrid: McGraw-Hill/Interamericana de España. (Tema 3 i Tema 4. Parte I: Fundamentos de Neurofarmacología, Parte II: Sustratos Neurales de la acción farmacológica).(online access UAB library)
Dale Purves,George J. Augustine, David Fitzpatrick, William C. Hall, Anthony-Samuel LaMantia, James O. McNamara, S. Mark Williams, 5 a edición (2015). Neurociencia. Madrid: Medica Panamericana. (Capítulo Tema 1: 1 Estudio del sistema nervioso. Tema 2, Tema 3 i Tema 4: Unidad I. Señalización neural).(online access UAB library)
Dale Purves,George J. Augustine, David Fitzpatrick, William C. Hall, Anthony-Samuel LaMantia, James O. McNamara, S. Mark Williams, 6 a edición (2018). Neuroscience. New York: Oxford University Press
Diego Redolar Ripoll (2018) Psicobiología. Madrid: Panamericana. (Tema 2: Capítulo 7: Potencial de reposo y potencial de acción).
Compementary bibliography
Águeda del Abril, Ángel A. Caminero, Emilio Ambrosio, Carmen García, Mª Rosario de Blas, Juan M. de Pablo (2009) Fundamentos de Psicobiología. Madrid. Sanz y Torres.
Duane E. Haines, GregiryA. Mihailoff (2019). Principios de neurociencia: aplicaciones básicas y clínicas. Elsevier (Accés online a través de la biblioteca UAB)
James W Kalat (2004) Psicología Biológica. Madrid: Thomson Paraninfo.
Bryan Kolb, Ian Whishaw (2002) Cerebro y Conducta. Una Introducción. Madrid: McGraw-Hill/Interamericana.
John P.J. Pinel (2007) Biopsicología. Madrid: Pearson Educación.
Mark R. Rosenzweig, S. Marc Breedlove, Neil V. Watson, N.V. (2005) Psicobiología. Una introducción a la Neurociencia Conductual, Cognitiva y Clínica. Barcelona: Ariel
Stephen M. Stahl (2014) Psicofarmacología esencial de Stahl: bases neurocientíficas y aplicaciones prácticas. Madrid: Aula médica, Formación en Salud. (Tema 4).
Software
SimNeuron (available in classrooms AI31 to AI35)