annex 5 to programme documentation
Course Syllabus
I. General Information
Course name Biological bases of behavior
Programme Psychology
Level of studies (BA, BSc, MA, MSc, long-cycle MA
MA)
Form of studies (full-time, part-time) Full-time
Discipline Psychology
Language of instruction English
Course coordinator/person responsible dr Paweł Stróżak
Type of class (use only Number of teaching Semester ECTS Points
the types mentioned hours
below)
lecture 30 I 7
Course pre-requisites 1. Basic knowledge in biology, chemistry and physics;
2. B2 English language skills
II. Course Objectives
1. Introducing the basic issues of biological mechanisms of animal and human behavior
2. Disseminate knowledge of genetics, neurobiology, human anatomy and physiology
Introduction to the problem of explaining human behavior in terms of genetic, physiological
3.
and neurobiological processes
III. Course learning outcomes with reference to programme learning outcomes
Reference to
Symbol
Description of course learning outcome programme learning
outcome
KNOWLEDGE
W_01 The student recognizes and explains the biological K_W02
determinants of human and animal behavior, especially in
terms of genetic, neurobiological and physiological processes
leading to specific forms of behavior
W_02 The student identifies and characterizes the links between K_W05
psychology and biology; describes the genetic, physiological and
neurobiological determinants of behavioral disorders and
mental life
SKILLS
U_01 The student selects theoretical knowledge from the sciences of K_U01
the biological basis of behavior to analyze and interpret human
behavior
annex 5 to programme documentation
U_02 The student verifies the biological causes of human behavior, K_U11
predicts their consequences, and outlines opportunities for
positive change in these behaviors
SOCIAL COMPETENCIES
K_01 The student recognizes and expresses critical opinions towards K_K01
those views and practices in the field of psychology that ignore
the biological predisposition to certain behaviors
K_02 The student recognizes the advantages of leading a healthy K_K05
lifestyle and is oriented towards caring for people's
psychophysical comfort
IV. Course Content
1. Introduction: biological psychology and behavioral neuroscience; different perspectives to
understand behavior; brain and behavior
2. The basic principles of inheritance: pre-Mendelian ideas on heredity; Mendelian inheritance;
Mendelian principles in human genetics
3. The science of genetics: chromosomes and DNA; transcription, translation and the genetic code;
genes and genomics
4. Behavioral genetics: disentangling nature and nurture; the adoption and the twin methods;
heritability of psychological traits
5. Neurophysiology: brain and the encephalization quotient; nerve cells and glial cells; synapses and
synaptic transmission
6. Psychopharmacology: neurotransmitters; drug effects on synaptic transmission; neuroactive
drugs
7. Anatomy of the nervous system: neuroanatomical terminology; central and peripheral nervous
system; spinal cord; brain and cerebral cortex
8. Methods of brain research: single and multi-cell recordings; electroencephalography (EEG) and
magnetoencephalography (MEG); brain-computer interfaces (BCI); transcranial magnetic stimulation
(TMS); tomographic methods (fMRI, PET, fNIRS)
9. Perception: vision; hearing; the mechanical senses (balance, touch, and pain); the chemical senses
(taste and smell)
10. Action: motor behavior and motor control; neuromuscular hierarchical systems; brain disorders
disrupting movement
11. Sexual behavior: evolutional, hormonal, and neural bases of reproductive behavior; sexual
differentiation; human sexual orientation
12. Internal regulation: homeostasis and allostasis; thermoregulation; fluid regulation; food and
energy regulation
13. Biological rhythms and sleep: circadian, infradian, and ultradian rhythms; sleep stages and sleep
patterns; sleep functions
14. Emotional behavior: theories of emotions; bodily responses to emotional stimuli; aggression and
stress
15. Psychopathology: schizophrenia; depression and bipolar disorder; anxiety disorders
V. Didactic methods used and forms of assessment of learning outcomes
Symbol Didactic methods Forms of assessment Documentation type
(choose from the list) (choose from the list) (choose from the list)
KNOWLEDGE
annex 5 to programme documentation
W_01 Conventional lecture Written exam Evaluated exam sheet
Conversational lecture with Written exam Evaluated exam sheet
discussion
W_02 Conventional lecture Written exam Evaluated exam sheet
Conversational lecture with Written exam Evaluated exam sheet
discussion
SKILLS
U_01 Discussion of issues using Written exam Evaluated exam sheet
multimedia presentation
U_02 Discussion of issues using Written exam Evaluated exam sheet
multimedia presentation
SOCIAL COMPETENCIES
K_01 Discussion Listening to students' Active participation in the
comments and arguments discussion noted on the
during discussion list
K_02 Discussion Listening to students' Active participation in the
comments and arguments discussion noted on the
during discussion list
VI. Grading criteria, weighting factors
Evaluation criteria for the written exam: Unsatisfactory (0%-50%); Satisfactory (52,5%-60%);
Satisfactory+ (62,5%-70%); Good (72,5%-80%); Good+ (82,5%-90%); Excellent (92,5%-100%)
VII. Student workload
Form of activity Number of hours
Number of contact hours (with the teacher) 30 h (teaching)
Number of hours of individual student work 180 h
VIII. Literature
Basic literature
1. Kalat, J. W. (2018). Biological Psychology. 13th Edition. Cengage Learning.
2. Knopik, V. S., Neiderhiser, J. M., DeFries, J. C., Plomin, R. (2016). Behavioral Genetics. 7th Edition.
Worth.
3. Ward, J. (2020). The Student’s Guide to Cognitive Neuroscience. Fourth Edition. Routledge.
Additional literature
1. Breedlove, M., Watson, N. (2020). Behavioral Neuroscience. 9th Edition. Oxford University Press.
2. Snustad, P.D., Simmons, M. J. (2015). Principles of Genetics. 7th Edition. Wiley.
3. Watson, J. D., Berry, A., Davies, K. (2017). DNA. The Story of the Genetic Revolution. Knopf.
4. Plomin, R. (2019). Blueprint: How DNA makes us who we are. The MIT Press.
5. Sapolsky, R. M. (2017). Behave: The Biology of Humans at Our Best and Worst. Penguin Press.
