Biological psychology: exploring the brain
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| 4 Tutor-marked assignments (TMAs) | |
| End-of-course assessment | No residential school |
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Summary
What do biologists and psychologists understand by the concepts of brain and consciousness? How do we study the brain, its structure and development? What is schizophrenia? This course presents an integrated, interdisciplinary approach to the brain and to the behavioural and psychological sciences. It focuses on humans, and where possible considers implications for human health of factors affecting behaviour and the nervous system. Much of our understanding of the nervous system derives from animal research, so this is also described. The emphasis is on observation and experiment, and you’ll carry out some investigations yourself.
We strongly advise that you read the entry advice very carefully before registering for this course.
Course content
You will learn how to formulate hypotheses; plan and carry out investigations; and manipulate the resulting data. You will also be expected to carry out an investigation of your own. The course develops your written presentation skills, and your ability to understand and interpret current findings in biological psychology.
The course will enable you to:
- acquire a core of basic knowledge concerning neuroscience and biological perspectives on psychology, which will allow you to proceed to a detailed interdisciplinary study of important topics in this area
- appreciate the implications for human health of factors affecting behaviour and the nervous system, and how the study of disease has helped in the study of normal physiological and psychological phenomena
- understand the conceptual context of the study of the brain and behavioural sciences
- integrate information from a variety of sources
- plan, conduct, analyse and report biological investigations
- develop skills in scientific communication, handling data and retrieving information.
The course is presented in six books, some accompanied by CD material. A Study Guide and Glossary provides guidance on studying the course materials.
Book 1 From Cells to Consciousness begins with an introduction to the course, explaining both its approach and its scope. This leads into an examination of nervous systems, in particular the human nervous system, its organisation and the various different types of cell within it. There is then a discussion of the phenomenon of consciousness.
Book 2 Beyond Reasonable Doubt is a guide to designing experiments in the behavioural sciences. More specifically, it provides a background to the experiments that are undertaken in the investigative strand of the course.
Book 3 Exploring the Brain starts with some basic cell biology. It then proceeds with a survey of the many techniques used to study nervous systems and the brain. It ends with a study of how genes and the environment, nature and nurture, work together in the development of the human nervous system, in particular during the period from conception to birth, to make each of us unique.
Book 4 From Neurons to Behaviour begins by examining how the cells in the nervous system communicate with each other; and how networks of such cells receive, process and communicate information. This leads in to an examination of how information is processed in the human nervous system and in the control of movement.
Book 5 Learning and Language is in two parts. The first is an examination of the neurobiological basis of learning and memory. This includes a discussion of how both are affected by the external and the internal environment. The second part of the book addresses the linked topics of hearing, speech and language.
Book 6 Emotions and Mind begins with a discussion of the topics of motivation and emotion: what are they and what is their neurobiological basis? This leads on to a study of schizophrenia; its biology, its causes, and its treatment. The course ends with a brief return to the phenomenon of consciousness, which was first discussed in Book 1.
Associated residential school course
The 10-point residential school course Investigative biology (SXR270) (previously coded SXR204) offers tuition and activities that support the academic aims of this course, though it is not directly related to it. If you want to count SD226 towards certain Open University qualifications, you may need to include SXR270/SXR204 as well. If you decide to attend the residential school, you must register for SXR270 separately, for which an additional fee is payable.
Entry
As an interdisciplinary course, SD226 is likely to present a challenge to all its students. The first half of the course is more 'biological' while the second half is more 'psychological'. Students from a non-science background may find the biological content of the course demanding, while those from a science background may find the psychological approach unfamiliar.
It is not essential to have a scientific background to study SD226, although clearly some knowledge of basic biology would be very useful. You do, however, need to have the study skills appropriate to progress on this challenging Level 2 course. In order to acquire the necessary skills before taking SD226, the course team consider it essential for you to have achieved a pass in one of the University's 60-point Level 1 courses, such as Exploring science (S104) (or the discontinued courses S102 or S103) or Introducing the social sciences (DD101) (or the discontinued course DD100). You are also strongly recommended not to do SD226 as your first Level 2 course: it would be helpful already to have achieved a pass in another Level 2 course such as Exploring psychology (DSE212) (or the discontinued course DSE202), Child development (ED209) (or the discontinued course E206), Human biology (SK277) (or the discontinued course SK220) or Biology: uniformity and diversity (S204) (or the discontinued course S203).
It is essential that you establish whether or not your background and experience give you a sound basis on which to tackle the course, since students who are appropriately prepared have the best chance of completing their studies successfully. The Science Faculty has produced a booklet Are You Ready For SD226? to help you to decide whether you already have the recommended background knowledge or experience to start the course or whether you need a little extra preparation. This can be viewed as an interactive program for PC or printed as a PDF from the Science Faculty website. If you have any doubt about the suitability of the course, please contact our Student Registration & Enquiry Service.
Preparatory work
SD226 requires students to interpret diagrams, graphs and tables, analyse and present data in an appropriate way, and write accounts and experimental reports. Students who feel they may not have the necessary study skills are strongly advised to read relevant sections in The Sciences Good Study Guide (1997) by A. Northedge, J. Thomas, A. Lane and A. Peasgood before they start the course.
Qualifications
SD226 is a compulsory course in our:
SD226 is an optional course in our:
- Diploma in Life Sciences (E05)
- Diploma in Natural Sciences (D47)
- Diploma in Health Sciences (E21)
- Diploma of Higher Education in Social Sciences (E50)
- BA/BSc (Honours) Health Studies (B17)
- BSc (Honours) Life Sciences (B28)
- BSc (Honours) Natural Sciences (B16)
- BA/BSc (Honours) Social Sciences (B06)
It can also count towards most of our other degrees at bachelors level, where it is equally appropriate to a BA or BSc. We advise you to refer to the relevant qualification descriptions for information on the circumstances in which this course can count towards these qualifications because from time to time the structure and requirements may change.
Excluded combinations
Sometimes you will not be able to count a course towards a qualification if you have already taken another course with similar content. To check any excluded combinations relating to this course, visit our excluded combination finder or check with our Student Registration & Enquiry Service before registering.
If you have a disability or additional requirement
The printed course material is available on audio in DAISY Digital Talking Book format. It has not been possible to describe the diagrams contained in the books in audio, but some figure descriptions are available in MS Word format on the course website. Adobe Portable Document Format (PDF) versions of the course material are available. Some Adobe PDF components may not be available or fully accessible using a screen reader and mathematical, scientific materials, diagrammatic or foreign language material may be particularly difficult to read in this way. The printed course materials are also available in a comb-bound format. Large print versions of the printed course material can be provided on request. Our Services for disabled students website has the latest information about availability.
This course includes significant use of a personal computer including the study of a number of interactive activities on CD-ROMs which are essential to the course and some disabled students may require the support of an assistant to complete these. The course also includes use of a website and tools such as online conferencing. If you use specialist software or hardware to assist you in operating a computer or the internet and have any concerns about accessing this type of material you are advised to talk to the Student Registration & Enquiry Service about support which can be given to meet your needs.
If you are a new student, or new to courses using a computer or the internet, you will need to inform us of your particular needs as soon as possible, as some of our support services may take several weeks to arrange. Details of how to do this and our range of support services are described in our booklet Meeting your needs which you can download or request from our Student Registration & Enquiry Service.
You can also find information about accessible course materials, financial support and the Disabled Students' Allowance, equipment and other services, on our Services for disabled students website. It also includes our contact details for advice and support both before you register and while you are studying.
Course materials
What's included
Course books, study text and other printed materials, CD-ROMs, course website.
Computing requirements
This course includes online computer activities – you can access these using a web browser that can play Flash and Shockwave.
You will need internet access and a computer. If you have purchased a new computer since 2002 it should meet your course computing requirements. Check our Technical Requirements section if your computer is older than this or is otherwise unusual.
Teaching and assessment
Support from your tutor
You will have a tutor who will help you with the course material and mark and comment on your written work, and whom you can ask for advice and guidance. We may also be able to offer group tutorials or day schools that you are encouraged, but not obliged, to attend. Where your tutorials are held will depend on the distribution of students taking the course. Contact our Student Registration & Enquiry Service if you want to know more about study with The Open University before you register.
Assessment
The assessment details for this course can be found in the facts box above.
You can choose whether to submit your tutor-marked assignments (TMAs) on paper or online through the eTMA system. You may want to use the eTMA system for some of your assignments but submit on paper for others. This is entirely your choice.
The end of course assignment (ECA) that takes the place of an examination must be submitted in hard copy.
You must obtain a pass mark on both the continuous assessment and the ECA to pass the course. Electronically submitted assignments will be marked and returned electronically. We hope this will speed up feedback on your work. Assessment is an essential part of the teaching, so you are expected to complete it all. Substitution does not apply to any of the assignments in SD226.
Professional recognition
This course may help you to gain recognition from a professional body. Download Recognition leaflets 3.1 British Psychological Society and 3.8 Scientific Institutions or ask our Student Registration & Enquiry Service for a copy.
Students also studied
Students who studied this course also studied at some time:
Future availability
The details given here are for the course that starts in February 2011. It will be presented once a year.
How to register
To register a place on this course return to the top of the page and use the Click to register button. For more information and advice about registration see OU Study Explained.
About this page
An undergraduate course in Health and Social Care, Psychology and Science.
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