Biological Basis of Behavior

Catalog description

This course is designed to familiarize future school psychologists with the neurological and neuropsychological basis of behavior, as well as psychopharmacological interventions currently available to treat a variety of neuropsychiatric disorders. In the first part of the course, students will learn principles of neuroanatomy, the major structures of the brain, and the associated functions of key brain structures. Each class period will be comprised of lecture, class discussion, an activity (e.g., video, guest, interactive computer activity), and two students? reviews of a research article related to that session?s topic (2 per class period). The second section of the course will focus on psychopharmacological intervention of disorders/conditions commonly seen in childhood. Again, class sessions within this portion of the course will be comprised of class lecture and class discussion. This section of the class will additionally include individual student presentations regarding the pharmacological intervention of child and adolescent psychiatric disorders/behavior problems (2 each class period). A midterm and a final exam will be completed.