PSY 43100 - Advanced Psychobiology

In this course, students will learn about different stages of brain maturation: prenatal brain development, child and adolescent brain development, and the aging brain. Emphasis will be placed on how certain brain regions grow or degenerate at different stages of life and how that relates to observed changes in behavior. Topics may include disorders of brain development, how experience guides brain development, adolescent susceptibility to psychological disorders, and age-related cognitive decline. Hands-on experience will be gained through exercises in brain anatomy. In addition, students will design an empirical project in the area of developmental neuroscience.

Preparation for Course
P: PSY 32900 with grade of C- or better and senior class standing and a psychology or biology major.

Cr. 3.
Student Learning Outcomes
1. Understand basic anatomy and physiology of the nervous system.
2. Understand complex behavior and cognition as products of neural activity.
3. Understand the methods used to investigate neural processes.