Psychophysiology

Study Course Description

Course Description Statuss:Approved

Course Description Version:11.00

Study Course Accepted:02.02.2024 12:25:37

Study Course Information
Course Code:		SUPK_109		LQF level:		Level 6
Credit Points:		2.00		ECTS:		3.00
Branch of Science:		Biology; Human and Animal Physiology		Target Audience:		Psychology
Study Course Supervisor
Course Supervisor:		Agnese Ušacka
Study Course Implementer
Structural Unit:		Faculty of Social Sciences
The Head of Structural Unit:
Contacts:		Dzirciema street 16, Rīga, szfrsu[pnkts]lv
Study Course Planning
Full-Time - Semester No.1
Lectures (count)		10	Lecture Length (academic hours)		2	Total Contact Hours of Lectures		20
Classes (count)		4	Class Length (academic hours)		2	Total Contact Hours of Classes		8
Total Contact Hours								28
Part-Time - Semester No.1
Lectures (count)		6	Lecture Length (academic hours)		2	Total Contact Hours of Lectures		12
Classes (count)		2	Class Length (academic hours)		2	Total Contact Hours of Classes		4
Total Contact Hours								16
Study course description
Preliminary Knowledge:
Biology and Genetics, Biomedical Basics of Human Functioning, General Psychology.
Objective:
To provide insight into the neurophysiological mechanisms of psychic functions in the human brain, to analyse the biological origin of instinct, motivation, emotion, memory, attention, and consciousness, allowing to understand the phenomena and regularities of psychology. To promote students' skills to work both independently in information selection and in a group.
Topic Layout (Full-Time)
No.	Topic			Type of Implementation		Number	Venue
1	Subject, methods, science of psychophysiology, its history. Evolutionary development of the brain in the human and animal body.			Lectures		1.00	auditorium
2	Functional structure of the human nervous system. Functions of the nervous system. Reflex. Central and peripheral nervous system. Nervous system formations in tissues and organs.			Lectures		1.00	auditorium
3	Basic types of specific cells of the nervous system. Basic functions of the neuroendocrine system.			Lectures		1.00	auditorium
4	Neural Communication: Signaling, transmission of electrical and chemical information in the nervous system. Neuroplasticity.			Lectures		1.00	auditorium
5	Functions of the cerebral cortex; functional asymmetry. Sleep-wake cycle.			Lectures		1.00	auditorium
6	Sensory and motor systems.			Lectures		1.00	auditorium
7	Physiology of pain; objective and subjective components of the pain response. Physiology of stress.			Lectures		1.00	auditorium
8	Physiological nature of basic mental processes: consciousness, unconsciousness and perception.			Lectures		1.00	auditorium
9	Physiological nature of basic mental processes: memory, types of memory and attention.			Lectures		1.00	auditorium
10	Physiological nature of basic mental processes: Emotions and motivation.			Lectures		1.00	auditorium
11	Recent research in psychophysiology.			Classes		4.00	auditorium
Topic Layout (Part-Time)
No.	Topic			Type of Implementation		Number	Venue
1	Subject, methods, science of psychophysiology, its history. Evolutionary development of the brain in the human and animal body.			Lectures		1.00	auditorium
2	Functional structure of the human nervous system. Functions of the nervous system. Reflex. Central and peripheral nervous system. Nervous system formations in tissues and organs.			Lectures		1.00	auditorium
3	Basic types of specific cells of the nervous system. Basic functions of the neuroendocrine system.			Lectures		0.50	auditorium
4	Neural Communication: Signaling, transmission of electrical and chemical information in the nervous system. Neuroplasticity.			Lectures		0.50	auditorium
5	Functions of the cerebral cortex; functional asymmetry. Sleep-wake cycle.			Lectures		0.50	auditorium
6	Sensory and motor systems.			Lectures		0.50	auditorium
7	Physiology of pain; objective and subjective components of the pain response. Physiology of stress.			Lectures		0.50	auditorium
8	Physiological nature of basic mental processes: consciousness, unconsciousness and perception.			Lectures		0.50	auditorium
9	Physiological nature of basic mental processes: memory, types of memory and attention.			Lectures		0.50	auditorium
10	Physiological nature of basic mental processes: Emotions and motivation.			Lectures		0.50	auditorium
11	Recent research in psychophysiology.			Classes		2.00	auditorium
Assessment
Unaided Work:
Each student must write an essay individually on one of the proposed topics related to the material presented in the lectures. Each student must attend all four (FT) seminars and complete multiple choice tests at the end of the sessions. Students should prepare individually for the final exam - a test. In order to evaluate the quality of the study course as a whole, the student must fill out the study course evaluation questionnaire on the Student Portal.
Assessment Criteria:
Active participation in classes (10%), essay (50%), exam at the end of the semester (40%).
Final Examination (Full-Time):		Exam (Written)
Final Examination (Part-Time):		Exam (Written)
Learning Outcomes
Knowledge:		• explain physiological processes in the brain; • describe the physiological basis of psychic processes; • present contemporary scientific notions about the neurophysiological mechanisms of psychic functions in the human brain.
Skills:		• recognize different parts of the brain and describe their functions; • able to explain to others the physiological basis of psychic processes; • able to discern the psychophysiological mechanisms of psychological phenomena; • able to work both selecting information independently and in a group.
Competencies:		Students will be able to use the acquired knowledge about the diverse psychophysiological processes in the body in the specialised courses in the study programme "Psychology".
Bibliography
No.	Reference
Required Reading
1	Cacioppo, J. T., Tassinary, L. G., & Berntson, G. (Eds.). (2007). Handbook of psychophysiology. Cambridge university press.
2	Getz, G. E. (2014). Applied biological psychology. Springer Publishing
3	Purves, D., Augustine, G. J., Fitzpatrick, D., Hall, W. C., LaMantia, A. S., McNamara, J. O., & White, L. E. (2008). Neuroscience. 4th. Massachusetts: Sinauer Associates, Inc
4	Carter R. The Brain Book. (2014) London, New Yourk etc.: Dorling Kindersley.
5	Al’Absi, M., & Flaten, M. A. The Neuroscience of Pain, Stress, and Emotion: Psychological and Clinical Implications. The Neuroscience of Pain, Stress, and Emotion: Psychological and Clinical Implications. 2016.
Additional Reading
1	Aberberga-Augškalne, L. (2008) Fizioloģija rehabilitologiem un veselības sporta speciālistiem. Rīga, Medicīnas apgāds
2	Guyton, A. C. and Hall, J. E. (2010) Textbook of Medical Physiology. 12th ed. Saunders
3	Segalowitz, S. J., Schmidt, L. A. (2008) Developmental Psychophysiology : Theory, Systems, and Methods. Cambridge : Cambridge University Press. eBook., Database: eBook Academic Collection (EBSCOhost)
4	Dūka, M. (2001) Psihes bioloģiskie pamati. R. LU
5	Gendolla, GHE, (2017) The psychophysiology of motivation: Body and brain in action. International Journal Of Psychophysiology: Official Journal Of The International Organization Of Psychophysiology. Vol. 119, pp.1-3; Publisher: Elsevier; PMID: 2855479
6	Li, Lu; Gow, Andrew Douglas Isherwood; Zhou, Jiaxian. (2020). The Role of Positive Emotions in Education: A Neuroscience Perspective. Mind, Brain, and Education, v14 n3 p220-234 Aug. (EJ1263608), Database: ERIC
7	Hamm AO. (2020). Fear, anxiety, and their disorders from the perspective of psychophysiology. Psychophysiology [Psychophysiology]. Feb; Vol. 57 (2), pp. e13474; Publisher: Blackwell; PMID: 31529522, Database: MEDLINE Complete
8	Rockstroh BS; McTeague LM. (2020). Psychophysiological approaches to understanding the impact of trauma exposure. Psychophysiology [Psychophysiology]. Jan; Vol. 57 (1), pp. e13497; Publisher: Blackwell; PMID: 31833088, Database: MEDLINE Complete
9	Parkers, S. (2016) Cilvēka ķermenis. Rīga: Zvaigzne ABC.
Other Information Sources
1	Žurnāls „Behaviour Brain Science”.
2	Žurnāls „Psychophysiology”.
3	Žurnāls „Horizons in Neuroscience Research".