Handbook

This course provides an overview of the neuroscience of learning and memory. Emphasis is placed on contemporary theories and approaches including the role of interactions between environmental events, synapses and genes. Topics include: appetitive and aversive motivation in learning, behaviour and psychopathology; Pavlovian conditioning; instrumental conditioning; how goals are represented and how they drive behaviour; and the development of habitual and compulsive behaviours; how animal models of human psychopathologies inform treatment and drug development. Learning activities include lectures, online collaborative learning sessions with lecturers and tutors, and face to face laboratory practicals. The laboratory component of the course provides hands-on experience in various aspects of research in physiological psychology. As such, a significant component of the course will involve handling and experimentation on animal subjects (rats).

Please note: Neuroscience major (NEURS1) students are exempt from the prerequisite of PSYC2001 Research Methods 2 as long as they have completed NEUR2201 Neuroscience Fundamentals. Note, however, that this condition does not apply to any students who are undertaking a Psychology major (PSYCA1 or PSYCB1) in addition to a Neuroscience major.