Psychology 451: Human Neuropsychology examines the neural substrates of human behaviour, including neuroanatomy, major methods in human brain research, neurological disorders, neurobehavioural disorders, and classic neuropsychological syndromes.
Outline
Part I: Background
Unit 1: The Development of Neuropsychology
Unit 2: Research on the Origins of the Human Brain and Behaviour
Unit 3: Nervous System Organization
Unit 4: The Structure and Electrical Activity of Neurons
Unit 5: Communication between Neurons
Unit 6: The Influence of Drugs and Hormones on Behaviour
Unit 7: Imaging the Brain’s Activity
Part II: Cortical Organization
Unit 8: Organization of the Sensory Systems
Unit 9: Organization of the Motor System
Unit 10: Principles of Neurocortical Function
Unit 11: Cerebral Asymmetry
Unit 12: Variations in Cerebral Asymmetry
Part III: Cortical Functions
Unit 13: The Occipital Lobes
Unit 14: The Parietal Lobes
Unit 15: The Temporal Lobes
Unit 16: The Frontal Lobes
Unit 17: Cortical Networks and Disconnection Syndromes
Part IV: Higher Functions
Unit 18: Learning and Memory
Unit 19: Language
Unit 20: Emotion and the Social Brain
Unit 21: Spatial Behaviour
Unit 22: Attention and Consciousness
Part V: Plasticity and Disorders
Unit 23: Brain Development and Plasticity
Unit 24: Neurodevelopmental Disorders
Unit 25: Plasticity, Recovery, and Rehabilitation of the Adult Brain
Unit 26: Neurological Disorders
Unit 27: Psychiatric and Related Disorders
Unit 28: Neuropsychological Assessment
Evaluation
To receive credit for the course, you must complete and submit all the assignments and quizzes and write the final exam. You must receive a grade of 50 percent or better on the final exam and a composite course grade of at least D (50 percent). The weighting of assignments is as follows:
Activity
Weight
Five Quizzes (3% each)
15%
Midterm Quiz
15%
Term Paper Outline
5%
Term Paper
25%
Final Exam
40%
Total
100%
The final examination for this course must be requested in advance and written under the supervision of an AU-approved exam invigilator. Invigilators include either ProctorU or an approved in-person invigilation centre that can accommodate online exams. Students are responsible for payment of any invigilation fees. Information on exam request deadlines, invigilators, and other exam-related questions, can be found at the Exams and grades section of the Calendar.
To learn more about assignments and examinations, please refer to Athabasca University’s online Calendar.
Materials
Kolb, B., & Whishaw, I. Q. (2021). Fundamentals of human neuropsychology (8th ed.). Worth Publishers. (eText)
All other course materials are available online, including a Study Guide covering the entire course.
Challenge for credit
Overview
The challenge for credit process allows you to demonstrate that you have acquired a command of the general subject matter, knowledge, intellectual and/or other skills that would normally be found in a university-level course.
Full information about challenge for credit can be found in the Undergraduate Calendar.
Evaluation
To receive credit for the PSYC 451 challenge registration, you must achieve a grade of at least D (50 percent) on the exam and a composite grade of D (50 percent).
Athabasca University reserves the right to amend course outlines occasionally and without notice. Courses offered by other delivery methods may vary from their individualized study counterparts.