Psychobiology Courses

Psychobiology courses explore how the structure and functions of the human brain and nervous system produce behaviors and mental processes. Students discuss topics such as perception, cognition, learning, memory, emotion, evolutionary and cognitive development, development of social behavior, neuroscience research and the application of psychobiology to the development and treatment of psychological disorders. These courses are usually taught in the context of psychology, psychiatry or Neuroscience departments. In psychobiology courses, students investigate how different cellular processes work together to support psychological processes, such as learning and memory. They learn about how the different structures of the nervous system and related systems of the brain interact to form these processes. Students also explore the biochemistry and genetics behind these processes. In addition, students receive instruction on how to use different research methods, such as functional magnetic resonance imaging, to study the brain and its behavior. They examine how different drugs, hormones and other compound affect the brain and the resulting behavior. Psychobiology courses also cover the application of this technology to psychological treatment. The course studies how understanding the physiology and biology of brain can help in the diagnosis and treatment of mental illnesses. In short, psychobiology courses provide students with an overview of the brain and nervous system, as well as how to use research and treatment to understand and help people deal with psychological issues. These courses can be very useful in preparing students for careers in both the clinical and research fields.