Lesson Structure: Biopsychology I BPS108

1  Introduction

• Approaches to Studying Biopsychology
• Research Methods of Biopsychology
• Ethical Considerations in Psychology
• Overview of Mind-Body Effects
• Response to External Stimuli
• Effects from Internal Environment
• Psychological Responses to Psychological Stimuli

2  The senses

• Organisation of the Sensory System
• Theories of Perception

3  The Nervous System

• Central and Peripheral Nervous Systems
• The Central Nervous System (CNS)
• The Peripheral Nervous System
• The Autonomic Nervous System
• Nerve Cells (Neurons)
• Neurotransmitters

4  The Endocrine System

• Introduction to the Endocrine System
• Hormones
• Sexual Behaviour
• Immune System

5  Stress

• Introduction to Stress
• Good Stress
• Stressors
• Stress Responses
• Stress and Health
• Personality Types and Stress
• Physical Relaxation

6  Emotions

• Homeostasis
• Eating Disorders
• Non-Homeostatic Behaviour
• Emotions
• Psychology of Emotions
• Theories of Emotion
• Biological Factors
• Aggression and Fear

7  Consciousness

• Awareness and Attention
• Function of Consciousness
• The Brain and Consciousness
• Disorders and Consciousness
• Rhythms of Sleep

Learning Goals: Biopsychology I BPS108

• Explain what is meant by the mind-body debate and consider various theories.
• Explain how different people can perceive the same stimulus in different ways, due to biological differences between them.
• Explain how the condition and functioning of the nervous system can affect the psychology of an individual.
• Explain the function of sensory and motor neurons.
• Explain the functioning of the cerebellum, the hypothalamus and the thalamus.
• Identify which brain structures are present in the limbic system, and their main functions.
• Explain how dopamine, norepinephrine and epinephrine act as neurotransmitters.
• Explain how the condition and functioning of the endocrine system can affect the psychology of an individual.
• Describe the relationship between psychological stress and the physical response of the body.
• Discuss the relationship between emotions and the physical nature of the body.
• Discuss the relationship between consciousness and the physical nature of the body.
• Describe the effect of three psychoactive drugs on the Central Nervous System.
• Explain how the autonomic nervous system works in terms of its sympathetic and parasympathetic divisions.

Your learning experience with ADL will not only depend on the quality of the course, but also the quality of the person teaching it. This course is taught by Iona Lister and your course fee includes unlimited tutorial support throughout from the teacher specialising in the module you are undertaking. Here are their credentials:

Iona Lister – Counselling 
Licentiate, Speech and Language Therapy, UK, Diploma in Advanced Counselling Skills.

Iona has been a clinician and manager of health services for fifteen years, and a trainer for UK-based medical charities, focusing on psychosocial issues, mental health disorders, and also the promotion of communication skills for people in helping roles. She tutors and facilitates groups via workshops and teleconferences, and now specialises in Sight Loss. As a freelance writer, she contributes regular feature articles for magazines, has written five published books, as well as published courses relating to personal development and counselling skills.

Iona has also written published books, courses and articles across a wide range of subjects, mostly in the areas of health, counselling, psychology, crafts and wildlife.

She has drawn experience from clinical and managerial experience within the NHS as well as medical and humanitarian subjects. She has been a regular feature writer and expert panel member of a national magazine for six years.

Books include: A Guide to Living with Alzheimer’s Disease (and associated dementias), The Psychology of Facial Disfigurement; a Guide for Health and Social Care Professionals, When a Medical Skin Condition Affects the Way you Look; A Guide to Managing Your Future, Facing Disfigurement with Confidence, Cross Stitch: A Guide to Creativity and Success for Beginners.
Courses written include: Mental Health and Social Work, Counselling Skills, Understanding and Responding to Substance Misuse, Journalling for Personal Development, Guided Imagery, Stress Management.

Current work includes: Tutor: Courses associated with Creative Writing, Counselling Skills, Psychology, Holistic Therapy, Certified Hypnotherapist and Hypnotension Practitioner.

Facilitator of Teleconference Groups: Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB)

Trainer (Skills for Seeing): Macular Society

Reviewer of Books/Information: Macmillan Cancer Support

Fundraiser: Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB), Embroidery/Art Groups Facilitator, Board Member

Website Manager: The Strathcarron Project, Coordinator (Delaware & Tennessee) Human Writes

Excerpt from the Course

HORMONES

Many chemicals can serve as neurotransmitters or hormones.  A chemical is known as a neurotransmitter when it is released close to its target cells.  It is known as a hormone when it is released into the blood in larger quantities for distribution to targets throughout the body. The action of a hormone is therefore broader in scope with a wider range of influence than a neurotransmitter. There are dozens of different hormones in the body, most of which fall into a few major classes:

• Protein and peptide hormones – are composed of chains of amino acids.  These hormones attach to membrane receptors where they activate a second messenger within the cell.

• Steroid hormones – contain four carbon rings.  They are derived from cholesterol.  They can act in the same way as protein and peptide hormones or they can penetrate the cells and attach to receptors in the cytoplasm, which then move to the nucleus of the cell and determine which genes will be expressed.

• Sex hormones – are a particular type of steroid released mostly in the gonads.  These include androgens, oestrogens, and progesterone.  They affect the brain, the genitals and other organs.

• Thyroid hormones and monoamines, and others that do not fit into any of these categories.

What Hormones Do

The effects of hormones can be classified into 7 broad types according to their functions:

1. Regulation of chemical composition of extra cellular fluid such as blood, lymph etc.

2. Regulating body metabolic processes including energy balance.

3. Regulating contraction of cardiac and smooth muscles, and the secretion of glands.

4. Contributing towards maintaining homeostasis (ie. stability of the body environment) within acceptable limits.

5. Regulating some aspects of the immune system.

6. Contributing toward proper growth and development of the body.

7. Control/regulation of reproductive processes.

Hormones achieve these effects in one of two ways:

• By attaching to the receptors on the membrane of a cell. When hormones attach to receptors, they activate an enzyme that produces another secondary messenger.  These are typically sharp or acute effects.

• By activating or suppressing the expression of genes. These tend to be long-term effects.

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