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An introduction to the brain and its role in thought and behaviour, and to perception, learning and cognition.
At an increasing rate, the scientific study of behaviour (what people and animals do) is exploiting new technologies to explore the mysteries of the human mind. We are all the product of our genetic makeup and lifetime learning. What learning systems has evolution favoured? What general principles govern learning? It is no longer a matter of nature versus nurture. Rather the question is how do they collaborate to produce behaviour that is appropriate to our niche? Underlying behaviour are the activities in the complex network of cells we call the nervous system. How does it work? What are the specialist systems within it? What functions do they serve? How does this help us understand brain injury, memory loss, and everyday thinking? Behaviours occur in response to events in our environment as well as to our beliefs. How do our senses work to pickup touch and pain and the changes in smell, sounds, and sights that occur in our external environment? Do we ever pickup information without attending and without being aware of it? What is the function of conscious thought? How are knowledge and beliefs stored in the memory systems of our brains and how is this knowledge retrieved and used when we look at a scene, make a decision, imagine, or comprehend a sentence? These are examples of the kinds of questions addressed in this course.
PSYC103, PSYC104
Note: The following lab streams will be available ONLY IF STUDENT NUMBERS WARRANT - Streams J, K, M, O, U and Y
Paul Russell
Gray, Peter; Psychology ; 5th ed; Worth, 2006.
O'Shea, Robert P. , Moss, Simon A., McKenzie, Wendy A; Writing for psychology ; 5th ed; Thomson, 2006.
Course Outline
Teaching Assistant Coordinators (TACs): Steve Haultain and Tracey McLellan - Room 113 Ground Floor Psychology Laboratory Block, 364 2987, ext 4849; Email: psyc105@canterbury.ac.nz
Domestic fee $659.00
International fee $2,805.00
* All fees are inclusive of NZ GST or any equivalent overseas tax, and do not include any programme level discount or additional course-related expenses.
For further information see Psychology .