ENSURE YOU ARE INQUISITIONAL
Biopsychology is a fascinating subject that will give students knowledge of how the human brain functions. In order to address fundamental concerns including how we move, think, create language, experience senses, and what transpires when we sleep or enter other altered states of consciousness, this field blends biological and psychological explanations of behaviour.
GO TO WORK ON YOUR FUTURE
This in-depth course will increase your knowledge of human psychology, health, and the body-mind connection through scientific ideas. As a result, both health professionals and people who have studied or wish to study psychology will find it particularly interesting.
Some professionals, including those in the health, fitness, and sports industries as well as counsellors and psychologists, study this for their own professional development.
Some people study for 100 hours at their own speed, starting whenever they want.
COMMENTS FROM STUDENTS
“My understanding of the functioning of the brain is expanding in all directions. It’s wonderful.” South African biopsychology student Yvonne Munshi.
“I truly loved the course and thought ACS was fantastic in every way,”
D. Kenyon, a student of ACS Biopsychology
Biopsychology: What is it?
Physiological psychology, psychobiology, or biological psychology are other names for biopsychology.
The science of physiology examines how living things work. It may include how objects move, physiological functions, growth and atrophy, and everything else that promotes or brings about physical or chemical changes in the body. It varies from anatomy, which is the study of the physical makeup of the human body, for this reason.
Lesson Structure
There are 7 lessons in this course:
- Introduction
- Types of external and internal stimuli, mind-body debate, introduction to the nervous system.
- The senses
- Sensory input, sensory perception, description of the major senses.
- The Nervous System
- Description of the neurons, the central nervous system, peripheral nervous system, including the autonomic nervous system.
- The Endocrine System
- Effect of hormones on behaviour and physiology, association of endocrine system and nervous system, connection between external and internal stimuli.
- Stress
- Types of stressors, physical affects of stress, personality & stress.
- Emotions
- Homeostasis, eating disorders, physiological responses to emotions, theories of emotion.
- Consciousness
- Degrees of consciousness, awareness & attention, altered states of consciousness.
Each lesson culminates in an assignment which is submitted to the school, marked by the school’s tutors and returned to you with any relevant suggestions, comments, and if necessary, extra reading.
Aims
- Consider several hypotheses and define the mind-body conflict.
- Describe how biological differences between persons can cause them to perceive the same stimuli in various ways.
- Describe how a person’s psychology might be impacted by the health and function of their nervous system.
- Describe how sensory and motor neurons work.
- Describe how the thalamus, hypothalamus, and cerebellum function.
- Determine which brain regions—and what they do—are part of the limbic system.
- Describe the functions of the neurotransmitters dopamine, norepinephrine, and epinephrine.
- Describe how a person’s psychology can be impacted by the state and operation of their endocrine system.
- Explain the connection between psychological stress and the body’s physiological reaction.
- Explain how the body’s physical makeup and emotions are related.
- Talk about the connection between the physicality of the body and consciousness.
- Explain the effects of three psychotropic substances on the CNS.
- Describe how the sympathetic and parasympathetic limbs of the autonomic nervous system function.
Body and Mind
There are clear correlations between a person’s physiology and psyche that may be seen, observed, or measured. For instance, chemical reactions brought on by various foods, such as the calming effects of carbs and bananas, can have an impact on the mind and emotions. Alcohol and other drugs, for example, can have an impact on a person’s psychological condition. On the other hand, feelings can trigger physical reactions. For instance, people’s blood vessels may constrict and their heart rates may rise while they are under stress. Also, it has been demonstrated that thinking only loving, appreciative, or grateful thoughts will increase immune system performance and control heart rate right away.
You can’t always control your body with your mind. The intellect and much of what we regard as fundamental human behaviour are also influenced by the body. Learn to explain the interactions and influences between human psychology and physiology on behaviour.
What Actually Influences Sexuality?
Sex chromosomes control the expression of sex. A girl is born from XX, a male from XY. The activation of a gene on the Y chromosome, which codes for the creation of a protein termed H-Y antigen, results in the development of the gonads and testes in males. The Mullerian system, which includes the embryonic precursors to female reproductive organs, will grow female sex organs without the presence of testicular hormone, but the Wolffian system, which includes the embryonic precursors to male reproductive organs, will not. That is, while “potential” reproductive organs are present in the embryo and ready to form, they will not do so without the proper hormone. Turner’s Syndrome is a medical issue. Turner’s syndrome patients are XOs rather than XXs or XYs because they only have one X chromosome. A sperm with a missing Y chromosome fertilised the ovum that develops into a person with Turner’s syndrome. The absence of the Y chromosome prevents the production of the H-Y antigen, which prevents the development of the testes. The ovaries do not mature because there is only one X chromosome in existence. Turner’s Syndrome sufferers nevertheless develop into females with typical female internal sex organs despite having no gonads at all.
When the hypothalamus starts to release gonadotrophin-releasing hormone, which in turn prompts the anterior pituitary gland to release follicle-stimulating hormone and lutenizing hormone, sexual maturity has occurred. These hormones cause the body to acquire secondary sexual traits like pubic hair and breasts by stimulating the gonads to emit their hormones.
What You Can Expect From This Course
Biology and psychology are combined in biopsychology. The objective of this course is to provide an understanding of the physical organisation of the brain and how it affects our perception of the environment. Graduates will gain knowledge of the detection and interpretation of sensory information, the function of chemicals and hormones, and the transmission of messages within the brain and body. Students can put together their understanding of other branches of psychology with the aid of this knowledge.
This course can be taken independently, as a part of a certificate programme, or as a higher-level course. Most interested in the course are those who work in or intend to work in:
- Psychology
- Psychotherapy
- Teaching
- Research
- Biological sciences
- Health sciences
- Health professionals
