Psychophysiology

Code:

LP202

Acronym:

PSIC

Keywords
Classification	Keyword
OFICIAL	Psychophysiology

Instance: 2004/2005 - A

Active?	Yes
Web Page:	http://www.fpce.up.pt/psicof/
Responsible unit:	Psychology
Course/CS Responsible:	Psychology Degree

Cycles of Study/Courses

Acronym	No. of Students	Study Plan	Curricular Years	Credits UCN	Credits ECTS	Contact hours	Total Time
LPSI	149	Plano oficial a partir de 2001/02	2	6	10	-

Objectives

Theoretical Classes:

1. Knowledge at anatomic and physiological level of the units that compose behavioural episodes and its psychological modularisation in interaction with environmente, considering either ascendant constraints, resulting from innate behavioural programs or descendent constraints, induced by learning;


2. Knowledge of different levels of the Nervous System organization, in the point of view of human system organization in hierarchic levels, under the guidance of a phylo-ontogenetic perspective;


3. Critical analysis of main concepts, theories and empirical results within the subjects of “Biology of Behaviour”.

Practical Classes:

1. Knowledge of basic concepts and general methodologies of laboratorial and experimental practice in psychophysiology;


2. Manipulation of equipment and application of psychophysiological techniques;


3. Preparation and accomplishment of experiments leading to the confirmation of hypothesis resulting from the behavioural units presented in the theoretical classes.

Program

1. Scope of Psychophysiology: emergence and limits of psychophysiology as a positive science, proposal of an epistemo-psychophysiology that allows the integration of the various organization levels of neurosciences into a theoretical and methodological body coherent with current knowledge.
2. Phylogenetic and ontogenetic evolution: phases of biogenesis; bioenergetics systems, animal phylogenesis and ontogenesis of the human nervous system.
3. The communication systems of the organism: endocrine, immunology and nervous system.
4. Fundamentals of functional neuroanatomy of the nervous system: neurofunctional aspects of the distinct organization levels of the CNS, cyto-structural, electrogenetic and neurochemical aspects of the neuronal organization.
5. Psychophysiology of motivation: motivation concept, general psychophysiological aspects of motivated behaviour; main instinctive programming.
6. Psychophysiology of affectivity: emotion theories, neurofunctional and biochemical aspects of emotions.
7. Psycophysiology of learning and memory: psychophysiological theories on memory, anatomical, biochemical and neurofunctional aspects of memory.
8. Psychophysiological methodology: practical demonstration of how the polygraph works and presentation of several psychophysiological indices.

Main Bibliography

ANDREASSI, J. (1980). Psychophysiology. New York : University Press.
ARANGUENA, L. e DORADO, J.(1995). Psicofisiologia: Fundamentos Metodológicos. Madrid: Ed. Pirámide
CACIOPPO, J. & TASSINARY, L. (1990). Principles of psychophysiology. Cambridge:Cambridge University Press.
CASTELLAR, J. (2000). Una introducción a la Psicofisiologia Clinica (2ª Ed.). Madrid: Ed. Pirâmide.
PINEL, J. (1993). Biopsychology (2ª Ed.) Boston: Allyn e Bacon.
MARQUES-TEIXEIRA, J. (1997). Processos Psicofisiológicos em Consumidores de Droga e Delinquentes. Droga-crime: Estudos interdisciplinares. Lisboa: Gabinete de Planeamento e de Coordenação do Combate à droga.

Complementary Bibliography

QUEIRÓS, C.(1997). Emoções e Comportamento Desviante: um Estudo na Perspectiva da Personalidade como Sistema Auto-organizador. Tese de Doutoramento defendida na FPCE-UP.

Teaching methods and learning activities

Number of hours per week: Theoretical - 2h/Practical – 2h

Software

Biopac Student Lab

Evaluation Type

Distributed evaluation with final exam

Calculation formula of final grade

FC = 0.7xT + 0.3xP
FC - Final Classification
T – Theoretical component classification
P - Practical component classification

Examinations or Special Assignments

Individual exams at the end of each didactical module in the practical component (1 exam each 6 weeks)