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Biological psychology I

Study level: Undergraduate study programme in psychology
Lecturers: Meri Tadinac, Ph.D., Svjetlana Salkičević, Ph.D.
ECTS: 7
Language: Croatian
Semester: 1st (winter)
Status: mandatory
Form of instruction with class hours: 45 hours of lectures and 30 hours of exercises
Prerequisites: none
Student evaluation: written and oral exam

Course Description

Biological psychology as a part of neuroscience. The issues of biological psychology. Neurons: structure, function and classes of neurons. Glial cells: classes and function. The nerve impulse: the neuron’s membrane potential, generation of action potential, ionic basis of action potential, propagation of action potential. Synapse: the concept and structure of synapses, the sequence of chemical events at the synapse. Neurotransmitters: classes and principles of action. Basic divisions of the nervous system: central and peripheral, somatic and autonomic. The evolutionary and ontogenetic development of the nervous system. Methods of studying the structure and function of the nervous system. Spinal cord. Brain stem. Cerebellum. Diencephalon. Telencephalon. Cerebral cortex. The principles of neocortical organization. Sensory systems: vision, audition, taste, olfaction and somatosensation. Motor systems: pyramidal and  extrapyramidal system. Associative cortical areas.

Course objectives

Understanding of the biological bases of psychological processes and behaviour, and familiarizing with the evolution and ontogenetic development of nervous system and behaviour.

Required Readings

Tadinac, M. i Hromatko, I.: Uvod u biološke osnove doživljavanja i ponašanja. FF Press i Dominković, Zagreb, 2012.
Pinel, J.P. (2001). Biološka psihologija. Jastrebarsko: Naklada Slap.

Recommended Readings
Anatomical Atlas – nervous system
Guyton, A.C. (1995): Temelji fiziologije covjeka. Zagreb: Jumena.
Kostovic, I. i sur. (1989): Anatomija covjeka – Središnji živcani sustav. Medicinski fakultet Sveucilišta u Zagrebu.
Judaš, M. i Kostovic, I. (1997): Temelji neuroznanosti. Zagreb: MD.