Behavioural Neuroscience

On successful completion of this subject students will:

- Understand the biological basis of human behavior and psychological processes through behavioral, affective and cognitive Neuroscience, its contributions and limitations, and be able to explain some animal and human behavior from this perspective.

- Know, at a basic and general level, the biological foundations of behavioral and cognitive processes such as motivation, emotion, learning and memory.

1. Introduction to behavioral, cognitive and affective neuroscience.
2. Introduction to techniques and procedures used to study the neural bases of behavioral and cognitive processes. From animal research to human research.
3. Physiological bases of learning and memory .
4. Physiological bases of emotion and motivation.

Basic:

Carlson, N.R. (2018). Fisiología de la conducta (12ª Ed.). Madrid: Pearson – Addison Wesley.

Complementary:

Banich, T. y Compton, R.J. (2018). Cognitive Neuroscience (4th Ed.). Cambridge University Press.

Bear, M.F., Connors, B. y Paradiso, M. (2016). Neurociencia. La exploración del cerebro (4ª Ed). Wolters Kluwer, Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.

Carretié Arangüena, Luis (2021). Anatomía de la mente: Emoción, Cognición y Cerebro (3ª Ed.). Madrid: Ediciones Pirámide.

Kolb, B., Wishaw, I.Q. (2017). Neuropsicología humana. Buenos aires: Editorial Médica Panamericana.

Purves, D., Cabeza, R., Huettel, S.A., LaBar, K.S., Platt, M.L. y Woldorff, M.G. (2013). Principles of Cognitive Neuroscience (2nd Ed.). Sunderland (Massachusetts): Sinauer.

Redolar Ripoll, D. (2023). Neurociencia cognitiva (2ª Ed.). Madrid: Editorial Médica Panamericana.

Ward, Jamie (2020). The student’s guide to Cognitive Neuroscience (4th Ed.). Milton Park, Abingdon, Oxon: Routledge.

The subject will contribuye to acquire the following competences of the degree:

General:

GC.1. To develope the cognitive and methodological skills for the professional practice
GC.2. To apply the acquired knowledge in problems resolution.
GC.3. To use critical reasonong based in contrasted facts, as well as analysis and summarizing skills.
GC.4. To communicate ideas, concepts and scientific data in a clear, precise way, both oral and written.
GC.5. To acquire skills that allow guiding Adquirir habilidades que permitan dirigir su autoaprendizaje a lo largo de la vida profesional.

Specific:

EC.1. To know and understand the advanced structural, molecular, genetic and functional aspects of the normal nervous system.
EC.3. To use properly the vocabulary and concepts of the subject.
EC.4. To understand and apply the current neuroanatomical, neurochemical, neurophysiological, molecular and clinical techniques of Neuroscience research.


In addition, the different activities to be performed during the course will allow to acquire several transversal competences:

- Updating knowledge using computer databases (Medline, Psychinfo)
- Acquiring the habit of reading and using additional sources to prepare the subject.
- Reading and interpretaron of scientific information in English
- Critical review of scientific literature.

Lectures for introducing and explaining the main theoretical topics of the program supported by the appropriated audiovisual resources. Basic bibliography will be provided for each lesson. Activities will be included in order to stimulate and facilitate the lectures follow up. Class time is understood as a multi-purpose time where, in some occasions, students will have to work, either individually or in group, to interpret relevant figures or make additional readings about the subject.

Previously to the beginning of the course, an outline of it (Guide of Study), with the main theoretical concepts, figures and graphics employed in the classroom and explanations of the programmed activities will be available. Student activities include reading of selected papers and writing activities that will complement the topics covered by student´s handbooks.

- Students must pass an exam with a grade of 5 out of 10. The exam score will represent the 70% of the student's final grade.
- Active class follow-up and performance of the programmed activities will represent the 30% of the student's final grade.

Attendance to theoretical and practical classes: 39 hours
Reading and commentary of bibliography: 25 hours.
Time for study: 35 hour, plus one hour of individual guidance.
Total time: 100 hours

It is very desirable to study the subject on a regular basis, progressing on the knowledge with the same rhythm as the theoretical program is explained in the lecture room.
We think that in order to prepare adequately the subject, it is essential to assist regularly to all the theoretical and practical classes.
It is also very valuable to have an active implication in the classroom.