Our ability to perceive the world, think and remember things depends upon the functioning of our brain. In this course we will look at the workings of the brain, with particular focus on understanding aspects of brain function that are of particular importance to psychology. Consequently, this course focus on the link between neuroscience and psychological functioning. 

Topics will include: mind-body problem; techniques to determine brain structure and cognitive functioning; functional properties and organisation of neurons in the early stages of the visual system and how that influences our perception; genetic and environmental influences in the development of the tuning properties of cells; colour processing and pathologies; memory encoding and storage; how emotion can affect memories; parallel and hierarchical processing in the brain; and how clinical neuropsychological findings map onto these pathways and processing stages, with particular emphasis on the concept of the cortical localisation of function. 

Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion, students will have the knowledge and skills to:

1. Apply critical analysis skills to evaluate research studies and conclusions.
2. Describe the fundamental concepts and major themes in how information is processed by the brain.
3. Compare and contrast particular approaches to studying brain function with respect to their use to answer a particular research question.
4. Understand the link between psychological and brain functioning.

Research-Led Teaching

Learning outcomes. 

1. Apply critical analysis skills to evaluate research studies and conclusions.
2. Describe the fundamental concepts and major themes in how information is processed by the brain.
3. Compare and contrast particular approaches to studying brain function with respect to their use to answer a particular research question.
4. Understand the link between psychological and brain functioning.

Examination Material or equipment

For approved dictionaries in accordance with ANU policies, see link: http://www.anu.edu.au/students/program-administration/assessments-exams/assessment-arrangements-for-students-from-language

Required Resources

Behavioral Neuroscience, by Breedlove & Watson (2017) (Eighth Edition)

Or

Biological Psychology, by Breedlove & Watson (2013) (Seventh Edition)

Recommended Resources

Readings will be set for each week. In some weeks, material additional to the textbook will be prescribed. It is important that all set material be read thoroughly. Supplementary reading for your own interest might also be suggested from time to time. The distinction between ‘prescribed’ and ‘suggested’ will be made very clear.

Staff Feedback

Students will be given feedback in the following forms in PSYC2007:

• Written comments will be given to individual students on their essay
• Feedback will be requested from class representatives at least twice through the semester at a general meeting for class representatives.

Student Feedback

ANU is committed to the demonstration of educational excellence and regularly seeks feedback from students. Students are encouraged to offer feedback directly to their Course Convener or through their College and Course representatives (if applicable). Feedback can also be provided to Course Conveners and teachers via the Student Experience of Learning & Teaching (SELT) feedback program. SELT surveys are confidential and also provide the Colleges and ANU Executive with opportunities to recognise excellent teaching, and opportunities for improvement.

Other Information

The University is returning to on campus only delivery for in person courses from Semester 2, 2023.

Remote adjustments will not be offered from the 1July 2023 and international students will be required to be on campus studying in person.

https://www.anu.edu.au/covid-19-advice#returning

Class Schedule

Week/Session	Summary of Activities	Assessment
1	Course overviewLectures: For lecture times, see ANU Timetable. The lectures will be run as flipped classes. This means that the lecture content will consist of two components, online material that will be available before the live lecture, and the live lecture. It is expected that students will have have engaged with the online content before the relevant live lecture. The online material will give the foundational knowledge for the topics being covered that week and will take the form of lecture slides, audio and/or video and readings. It will also identify a number of questions and or issues to think about prior to the live lectures. These questions/issues will be targeted on developing a sound understanding of the applications of the material. While the live lectures will answer any questions from students on the online content, their focus will be on working through addressing the questions/issues posed in the online content. That is, their focus will be on problem solving and applications to consolidate, deepen, and extend students’ understanding of the material. All of the materials (e.g., lecture recordings, PowerPoint slides and overheads) will be available on Wattle.Laboratory classes will involve discussions of topics covered in the lectures, including the topic of the essay - the future of psychology given advances in neuroscience. Week 1Admin & overviewMind-body problem & psychology	The assessment scheme for PSYC2007 will be discussed in the first week of classes. The proposed scheme is given below. For the final, agreed assessment, please refer to the PSYC2007 Wattle site after the end of the first week of lectures.
2	Week 2ContinuedDetermining brain structure & functionLaboratory Class: Discussion of Psychology v neuroscience (Basis of essay)
3	Week 3Determining brain structure & function continued
4	Week 4The Eye and Receptive fields
5	Week 5Cortical organisation & processingCortical developmentLaboratory Class: Computer simulations of the tuning cortical cells to visual stimuli
6	Week 6Cortical development continuedColour perception & abnormalities
7	Week 7Cortical development continuedMemory: Consolidation & Storage
8	Week 8Continued
9	Week 9Memory: Consolidation & Storage continuedMultiple processing pathways & stages
10	Week 10Multiple processing pathways & stages continuedMultiple processing pathways & stagesLaboratory Class: Discussion of Ethics in neuropsychology
11	Week 11Multiple processing pathways & stages continuedClinical neuropsychology
12	Week 12Clinical neuropsychology continued

Tutorial Registration

Registration will be via MyTimetable

Assessment Summary

Assessment task	Value	Learning Outcomes
Essay	30 %	1,2,3,4
End of semester exam	55 %	1,2,3,4
In lab quizzes	15 %	1,2,3,4

* If the Due Date and Return of Assessment date are blank, see the Assessment Tab for specific Assessment Task details

Policies

ANU has educational policies, procedures and guidelines , which are designed to ensure that staff and students are aware of the University’s academic standards, and implement them. Students are expected to have read the Academic Integrity Rule before the commencement of their course. Other key policies and guidelines include:

• Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure
• Student Assessment (Coursework) Policy and Procedure
• Extenuating Circumstances Application
• Student Surveys and Evaluations
• Deferred Examinations
• Student Complaint Resolution Policy and Procedure
• Code of practice for teaching and learning

Assessment Requirements

The ANU is using Turnitin to enhance student citation and referencing techniques, and to assess assignment submissions as a component of the University's approach to managing Academic Integrity. For additional information regarding Turnitin please visit the Academic Skills website. In rare cases where online submission using Turnitin software is not technically possible; or where not using Turnitin software has been justified by the Course Convener and approved by the Associate Dean (Education) on the basis of the teaching model being employed; students shall submit assessment online via ‘Wattle’ outside of Turnitin, or failing that in hard copy, or through a combination of submission methods as approved by the Associate Dean (Education). The submission method is detailed below.

Moderation of Assessment

Marks that are allocated during Semester are to be considered provisional until formalised by the College examiners meeting at the end of each Semester. If appropriate, some moderation of marks might be applied prior to final results being released.

Participation

Laboratory Attendance Rule

The Research School of Psychology considers the laboratory component of all courses to be an integral part of each course – laboratory classes may supplement and consolidate material covered in lectures or they may introduce entirely new material pertinent to the objectives of the course.

Examination(s)

Please note, that where a date range is used in the Assessment Summary in relation to exams, the due date and return date indicate the approximate timeframe in which the exam will be held and results returned to the student (official end of Semester results released on ISIS). Students should consult the course wattle site and the ANU final examination timetable to confirm the date, time and venue of the exam.

Assessment Task 1

Essay

Due: Dates will be negotiated in class. See agreed assessment on Wattle

Returned: Approximately 3 weeks from on-time submissions

Assessment Task 2

End of semester exam

The date range in the Assessment Summary indicates the start of the end of semester exam period and the date official end of semester results are released on ISIS. Please check the ANU final Examination Timetable http://www.anu.edu.au/students/program-administration/assessments-exams/examination-timetable to confirm the date, time and location exam.

Assessment Task 3

In lab quizzes

Review quizzes to be done within the labs

Academic Integrity

Academic integrity is a core part of the ANU culture as a community of scholars. The University’s students are an integral part of that community. The academic integrity principle commits all students to engage in academic work in ways that are consistent with, and actively support, academic integrity, and to uphold this commitment by behaving honestly, responsibly and ethically, and with respect and fairness, in scholarly practice.

The University expects all staff and students to be familiar with the academic integrity principle, the Academic Integrity Rule 2021, the Policy: Student Academic Integrity and Procedure: Student Academic Integrity, and to uphold high standards of academic integrity to ensure the quality and value of our qualifications.

The Academic Integrity Rule 2021 is a legal document that the University uses to promote academic integrity, and manage breaches of the academic integrity principle. The Policy and Procedure support the Rule by outlining overarching principles, responsibilities and processes. The Academic Integrity Rule 2021 commences on 1 December 2021 and applies to courses commencing on or after that date, as well as to research conduct occurring on or after that date. Prior to this, the Academic Misconduct Rule 2015 applies.

 

The University commits to assisting all students to understand how to engage in academic work in ways that are consistent with, and actively support academic integrity. All coursework students must complete the online Academic Integrity Module (Epigeum), and Higher Degree Research (HDR) students are required to complete research integrity training. The Academic Integrity website provides information about services available to assist students with their assignments, examinations and other learning activities, as well as understanding and upholding academic integrity.

Online Submission

You will be required to electronically sign a declaration as part of the submission of your assignment. Please keep a copy of the assignment for your records. Unless an exemption has been approved by the Associate Dean (Education) submission must be through Turnitin.

Hardcopy Submission

For some forms of assessment (hand written assignments, art works, laboratory notes, etc.) hard copy submission is appropriate when approved by the Associate Dean (Education). Hard copy submissions must utilise the Assignment Cover Sheet. Please keep a copy of tasks completed for your records.

Late Submission

Late submission permitted. Late submission of assessment tasks without an extension are penalised at the rate of 5% of the possible marks available per working day or part thereof. Late submission of assessment tasks is not accepted after 10 working days after the due date, or on or after the date specified in the course outline for the return of the assessment item. Late submission is not accepted for take-home examinations.

Referencing Requirements

The Academic Skills website has information to assist you with your writing and assessments. The website includes information about Academic Integrity including referencing requirements for different disciplines. There is also information on Plagiarism and different ways to use source material.

Returning Assignments

Assignments that have been submitted on time will be marked and available to download from the Turnitin link on Wattle, approximately three weeks after the due date. The exact return date will be posted on Wattle. Late assignments (including those with formal extensions) will not be marked within this timeframe.

Extensions and Penalties

Extensions and late submission of assessment pieces are covered by the Student Assessment (Coursework) Policy and Procedure. Extensions may be granted for assessment pieces that are not examinations or take-home examinations. If you need an extension, you must request an extension in writing on or before the due date. If you have documented and appropriate medical evidence that demonstrates you were not able to request an extension on or before the due date, you may be able to request it after the due date.

Resubmission of Assignments

Not permitted

Re-marking policy

If you have any questions about the assessment of a submitted piece of work, or if you wish to have some of the comments clarified, you may approach the staff member responsible for marking the assignment to arrange an appointment where you can discuss your concerns. If, after such discussion, you feel that a piece of work has not been adequately assessed, the following procedure applies:

(i) Ask the marker to reassess your work. Before doing so, it is your responsibility to outline in writing why you think the original mark does not reflect the true worth of the work. Give this outline to the original marker.

(ii) If the original marker agrees to reassess the work and alters the mark, and you accept this change, then the procedure ends, and you will not be eligible for any further remarking of the piece. The original marker will advise the course coordinator of the new mark so that they can ensure that the final records are accurate.

(iii) If following a discussion with the original marker, you still feel that the work has been inadequately assessed you may approach the course coordinator with a request for an independent remark. Please note that the mark that the course coordinator assigns will be the final mark. It is possible that this mark could be lower than the original mark.

Privacy Notice

The ANU has made a number of third party, online, databases available for students to use. Use of each online database is conditional on student end users first agreeing to the database licensor’s terms of service and/or privacy policy. Students should read these carefully. In some cases student end users will be required to register an account with the database licensor and submit personal information, including their: first name; last name; ANU email address; and other information.
In cases where student end users are asked to submit ‘content’ to a database, such as an assignment or short answers, the database licensor may only use the student’s ‘content’ in accordance with the terms of service – including any (copyright) licence the student grants to the database licensor. Any personal information or content a student submits may be stored by the licensor, potentially offshore, and will be used to process the database service in accordance with the licensors terms of service and/or privacy policy.
If any student chooses not to agree to the database licensor’s terms of service or privacy policy, the student will not be able to access and use the database. In these circumstances students should contact their lecturer to enquire about alternative arrangements that are available.

Distribution of grades policy

Academic Quality Assurance Committee monitors the performance of students, including attrition, further study and employment rates and grade distribution, and College reports on quality assurance processes for assessment activities, including alignment with national and international disciplinary and interdisciplinary standards, as well as qualification type learning outcomes.

Since first semester 1994, ANU uses a grading scale for all courses. This grading scale is used by all academic areas of the University.

Support for students

The University offers students support through several different services. You may contact the services listed below directly or seek advice from your Course Convener, Student Administrators, or your College and Course representatives (if applicable).

• ANU Health, safety & wellbeing for medical services, counselling, mental health and spiritual support
• ANU Access and inclusion for students with a disability or ongoing or chronic illness
• ANU Dean of Students for confidential, impartial advice and help to resolve problems between students and the academic or administrative areas of the University
• ANU Academic Skills and Learning Centre supports you make your own decisions about how you learn and manage your workload.
• ANU Counselling Centre promotes, supports and enhances mental health and wellbeing within the University student community.
• ANUSA supports and represents all ANU students