Brain and Behaviour (PSY 202-2) Even Semester 2023-

2024

SECTION I

Class Psy Eng/Psy Semester 2

Eco/PT/MP/CP

Course Code PSY 202-2 Course Title Brain and Behavior

Hours 60 Hours per week 4

Aiswarya V R Contact details aiswarya.vr@christun

Faculty name Shinto Thomas iversity.in
Bhuvaneshwari B shinto.thomas@christ
Maharishi R university.in
Shaharban N.V bhuvaneshwari.b@ch
Rajeshwari ristuniversity.in
Muthukumaran maharishi@christuniv
ersity.in
shaharban.nv@christu
niversity.in
rajeshwari.muthukum
aran@christuniversity
.in

Credits 4 Course Type Core

Course guidelines and policies:

Class policies and You can expect the facilitators to
guidelines • Start and end class on time
• Reply to emails within 2-3 days except during holidays and
vacations. In case of emergencies, kindly mark the email as
URGENT, and the students can expect a faster reply.
• Provide feedback for your assignments.
• Provide appointments at a mutually convenient time to discuss
doubts regarding the course and other academic topics.
• Maintain confidentiality of the discussions EXCEPT in
situations that involve a substantial breach of the University
Policies and/or situations involving any harm to self or others.
Office Hours and Appointment Policies:
• Prior appointments can be taken via email or in person. It is
implied that if the facilitator or the student is unable to keep the
appointment, they shall communicate the same to the other well in
advance, except in the cases of unforeseen circumstances.

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Communication Policies:
• According to the University Policies, the only permissible form
of official communication is via email. The student may use text
messages or phone calls to communicate something essential and
urgent during working hours.
• The student shall use only the official email ID provided by the
University for any form of official conversation with the facilitator.
Kindly refrain from using multiple email ids.
• It is also expected that the students check their official email ids
at least once in 24 hours.

Assignments Policies:
• The facilitator shall brief the students about the assignment
(objective of the assignment, style of writing, word limit, nature of
submission, evaluation rubrics, deadlines), and the same shall be
uploaded on their LMS account. The deadlines will be mutually agreed
upon.
• All submissions should be made on the LMS account unless
stated otherwise. Any assignment sent via email will automatically be
rejected.
• The students must strictly adhere to the mutually agreed-upon
deadlines. In cases where there are no accepted extenuating
circumstances (such circumstances should be informed to the facilitator
immediately via email or in person), late submission of coursework
shall lead automatically to the imposition of a penalty. A deduction of
2 marks per day after the deadline shall be imposed for two days post
the deadline. No submission will be considered for evaluation after two
days post the deadline.
Extenuating circumstances are situations beyond the student’s control
and can have a significant impact on academic performance. They
include but are not limited to any major illness, bereavement, acute
personal circumstances, or family illness. They DO NOT consist of
situations where the student has misread the instructions, was absent
when the assignment was discussed or has encountered problems with
the internet, electricity or computers.
The facilitator shall grade the assignments according to the rubrics that
was created specifically for a particular assignment, and that was
communicated to the class in advance.
• The facilitator shall normally return the submitted assignments
within two weeks of the prescribed deadline and communicate the
results to the students. In case of unavoidable circumstances, the
facilitator shall communicate the date of the declaration of results.

Classroom Behaviour
• The teaching-learning environment will reflect the University’s
mission statement- ‘Christ University is a nurturing ground for an
individual's holistic development to make an effective contribution to
society in a dynamic environment." Students are expected to cooperate
by behaving in a civil manner to fulfill the University’s mission.

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• Students are expected to be seated before the class begins. No

attendance will be given to a student who walks in late after the
facilitator submits the attendance.
• Students are expected to go through the course plan, syllabus
and come prepared for class.
• Students are not permitted to use electronic devices such as
mobile phones or laptops without the explicit permission of the
facilitator during class time. All electronic devices should be turned off
or kept in silent mode during class. Usage of such devices without the
facilitator’s permission will lead to immediate confiscation of the
device(s).
• Food and beverages are not allowed in classrooms
• Talking amongst other students and other disruptive behaviors
are not permitted when a class is in progress.
Healthy academic practices:
• Readings shall be assigned for each class. Read them and come
prepared.
• Take an active part in class discussions, contributing to
intellectual inquiry
• Train yourself in effective note-taking
• Take every effort to utilize resources available in the
University, including but not limited to the library and internet
resources
• Be respectful of your classmates and facilitators
• Contribute effectively to group assignments and discussions.
• Make productive use of your time in the University through
active learning experiences and building professional networks.

This second-semester course provides an undergraduate psychology

Course Description major student with a general understanding of the biological
mechanisms by which the brain, nervous system, and endocrine system
mediate behavior and mental processes. The students will be able to
appreciate the role of the brain and nervous system in human behavior
and mental processes by studying normal brain functions and
biological processes, including neurons and neuronal function, basic
brain anatomy, and the sensory systems, as well as potential problems
caused by abnormal brain functioning and processes. The course will
cover a range of selected behaviors and processes that are critically
related to the function of the nervous system. A special emphasis will
be placed on research findings that have shed light on the intricacies of
the brain-behavior relationship.

Upon successful completion of the course, the student will be able to:

● CO1: Identify the structure and function of the brain and

Course Outcomes nervous system.

● CO2: Explain the neurochemical and hormonal influences on

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behavior

● CO3: Articulate psychophysiology of basic human drives of

sleep, hunger, and sex.
● CO4: Evaluate the brain-behavior relationship and
consequences of damage to brain regions controlling complex
behaviors like memory, learning, and consciousness.

SECTION II
Module/ Module/ Unit/ Week Hours per Teaching Resource/
Unit/ Topic Topic details (starting week learning Reference details
number and and end methods used)/
title dates) activities and
or class trips/
dates for
assessment
CO1: The Nervous Week 1 4 Videos, Carlson, N. R.
Identify the system; Divisions Lectures, (2005).
structure and cells of the Discussions Foundations of
and nervous system question physiological
function of the structure, Week 2 4 answer session psychology.
the brain function and and revision Pearson
and types of neurons Education.
nervous Structure and Week 3 4
system Functions of the
Central nervous
system.
Structure and Week 4 3
Functions of the
peripheral
nervous system.
CO2: Hormones and Week 5 4 Videos,
Explain the behavior, Lectures,
neurochemi Mechanism of Discussions Kalat, J. W.
cal and action and effects (2015).
hormonal Major endocrine Week 6 4 Biological
influences glands, Thyroid, psychology.
on behavior Parathyroid, Cengage
Adrenal, Learning.
Pancreas, Week 7 4
Pituitary,
Gonads.
Hormones of the Week 8 3
hypothalamus.

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CO3: Physiology of Week 9 4 Research Kalat, J. W.

Articulate sleep. With articles (2015).
psychophys special emphasis Interactive Biological
iology of on the lectures, Case psychology.
basic mechanisms of analysis and Cengage
human the biological Videos Learning.
drives of clock. Human
sleep, sleep stages,
hunger and Rapid Eye
sex. Movement
(REM) sleep,
brain structures
and functions that
regulate
The biology of Week 10 4
thirst and hunger,
brain
mechanisms of
hunger,
Abnormal brain Week 11 3
chemistry in
eating disorders
and obesity.
The discussion on Week 12 4
reproductive
behaviours would
focus on the
organising and
activating effects
of hormones and
the detailed
biology of gender
CO4: Types of Week 13 4 Review of Kalat, J. W.
Evaluate memory, the research (2015).
the brain- brain areas, and/ articles Biological
behavior or mechanisms Videos, psychology.
relationship associated with Lectures, Cengage
and these different Discussions Learning
consequenc types of memory and case
es of and amnesia. analysis
damage to Physiological Week 14 5
brain representation of
regions learning- engram,
controlling brain areas
complex involved in
behaviors learning and the
like phenomenon of
memory, long-term
learning potentiation.

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and How trauma Week 15 3

consciousn impacts the
ess. brain? And how
the brain can
rewire -brain
plasticity
Role of brain in Week 16 3
Consciousness

SECTION III
Mapping:
Course Outcomes Programme Outcomes (please take up the strength mapping
here; map your COs to POs at -, 1, 2, and 3)
PO1 PO2 PO3 PO4 PSO1

CO1: Identify the structure 3 - - - -

and function of the brain and
nervous system
CO2: Explain the 3 - - - -
neurochemical and
hormonal influences on
behaviour
CO3: Articulate psychophy - 2 - - -
siology of basic human
drives of sleep, hunger and
sex.
CO4: Evaluate the brain- - 2 - - -
behaviour relationship and
consequences of damage to
brain regions controlling
complex behaviours like
memory, learning and
consciousness.

Course Outcomes Components of assessment (examples given below)

CIA I MSE CIA III ESE

(10 Marks) (25 Marks) (10 Marks) (50 Marks)

CO1: Identify the structure and 5 10 10

function of the brain and
nervous system
CO2: Explain the 5 15 10
neurochemical and hormonal

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influences on behaviour
CO3: Articulate 5 15
psychophysiology of basic
human drives of sleep, hunger
and sex.
CO4: Evaluate the brain- 5 15
behavior relationship and
consequences of damage to
brain regions controlling
complex behaviors like
memory, learning and
consciousness.

Assessment outline: This section includes details about the method of assessment (distribution of
marks between internal (CIA) and end-term assessment, how many CIAs, how many components
and weightage for each component). In this section the faculty member needs to provide an
overview of the different methods of assessment for each component that they will be using as a
part of the course as well as any guidelines that the department and the faculty member may
choose to follow such as a minimum class attendance percentage for submission of assignments,
submission rules such as submission of drafts for feedback and opportunities given for
improvement.
SECTION IV
CIA 1: 10 marks
CO1: Identify the structure and function of the brain/ nervous system.

Description of CIA 1

Individual assignment: Report submission (1000-1500 words, excluding references)

The student has to identify and choose a behaviour that they engage in or has observed. Then, they
need to identify the brain structures associated with that behaviour. A section connecting,
exploring and elaborating on the neurochemical and hormonal influences of the chosen behaviour
is to be added. Students are to include the sources used in the reference section at the end of the
report.

For example: When you see someone yawn, you start yawning! Why does it happen? What goes
on in your brain? Does this trigger sleep-related hormones and neurochemicals?

Criteria:

Identification of behaviour (appropriateness)

Conceptual clarity

Biological basis of behaviour

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Flow of the report and quality of sources

CIA1 Submission date (Moodle): 15th January 2024

CIA 2 /MSE: 25 Marks

Mid Semester Examination: It is a centralized written examination. The question paper will be
case study pattern.
Mid-Semester Examination dates: 26th February - 2nd March, 2024 (As scheduled by the
University/ Department)
CIA 3: 10 Marks
CO3: Articulate psychophysiology of basic human drives of sleep, hunger and sex.
CO4: Evaluate the brain-behaviour relationship and consequences of damage to brain regions
controlling complex behaviours like memory, learning and consciousness.
In-class test based on CO3 and CO4
Objective and subjective type questions (60%+40% weightage).

CIA3 test (Moodle): 1st April 2024, 12 pm -1 pm

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