Human Neuropsychology

Curriculum Guideline

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Course
PSYC 3315
Discontinued
No
Course Code
PSYC 3315
Descriptive
Human Neuropsychology
Department
Psychology
Faculty
Humanities & Social Sciences
Credits
3.00
Start Date
End Term
Not Specified
PLAR
No
Semester Length
15
Max Class Size
35
Contact Hours
Lecture 4hrs. per week/semester
Method(s) Of Instruction
Lecture
Learning Activities

The primary methods of instruction will be lecture and seminar. The course will also involve group activities, presentations, audiovisual media and guest lectures.

Course Description
Neuropsychology is the study of the relationship between human brain function and behaviour. Students build on their understanding of the nervous system with a focus on the structure and functional organization of the cerebral cortex.
Topics include sensory and motor systems and higher cortical functions such as language and memory. The course also allows students to explore topics such as developmental disorders, acquired brain injury and dysfunction, and neuropsychiatric and degenerative disorders.
Course Content
  1. Introduction to neuropsychology: history and remaining mysteries
  2. Neuroanatomy and principles of functional organization in the cortex   
  3. Research methods in neuropsychology and neuroscience
  4. Occipital lobes and visual systems
  5. Parietal lobes and somatosensory systems
  6. Temporal lobes and language, memory, and categorization
  7. Frontal lobes and motor and executive functions
  8. Memory
  9. Language
  10. Emotion
  11. Developmental and neurodegenerative disorders
  12. Neuropsychological assessment, plasticity, rehabilitation, and recovery of function
Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of the course the learner will be able to:

  1. Outline highlights of the history of human brain and behavior research.
  2. Identify and relate the structures and functions of the components of human nervous and endocrine systems.
  3. Compare and contrast the strengths and weaknesses of various research methods in neuropsychology and neuroscience.
  4. Identify, explain, and apply functional organization principles at the the cellular level as well as at the anatomical level.
  5. Classify major systems of the human brain, including motor, sensory, attention-consciousness, emotional, spatial, learning and memory, executive, and other cognitive functions.
  6. Infer structure-function relationships by applying the logic of dissociations, as in neurological case studies.
  7. Describe the symptoms of brain injuries and of neurological, neuropsychological, and developmental disorders.
  8. Demonstrate familiarity with examples of neuropsychological assessment techniques.
  9. Access and analyze current research in the fields of neuropsychology and neuroscience as relate to a particular question.
Means of Assessment

The course evaluation will be in accordance with Douglas College and Psychology Department policies. Evaluations will be based on the course objectives. The specific evaluation criteria will be provided by the instructor at the beginning of the semester.

An example of a possible evaluation scheme would be:

Exams - 3 at 20% each - 60%

Literature review paper - 20%

Peer review of papers - 5%

In-class presentations and discussion - 15%

Total - 100%

 

Textbook Materials

Textbooks and Materials to be Purchased by Students:

Texts will be updated periodically. An example of an appropriate text is:

  • Kolb & Whishaw. Fundamentals of Human Neuropsychology. (current ed.) MacMillan/Worth.
Prerequisites

PSYC 1100 AND PSYC 1200 AND PSYC 2315

Equivalencies

Courses listed here are equivalent to this course and cannot be taken for further credit:

  • No equivalency courses