Psychology

What causes jetlag? Why do you feel like having a cup of soup? How come smokers are so hooked on their cigarettes? These and other questions are discussed during the course Body and Behavior. This course mainly studies biological explanations for behavior based on themes such as sexuality, eating and drinking, sleeping and waking, medication, movement, and addiction. Knowledge of the biological basis of behavior is essential for psychologists. The most important structure for explaining human behavior is our brain. However, establishing a link between electrical and neurochemical activities in our brain to behavior is no easy task. You need sound knowledge of neuroanatomy (how parts of the brain are in connection to one another), neurophysiology (how brain cells operate), and neurotransmission (how brain cells communicate). During the first few weeks of the course, special attention is paid to the (further) development of this basic knowledge. Students learn that knowledge of the biological basis of human behavior does not only come from research on humans, but also on animals. Finally, research methods used by psychologists to study the biological basis of behavior is touched upon. Today, psychologists are able to carefully study the structure and function of the brain using these methods. The most important methods are discussed and the pros and cons are compared.

This course introduces students to the study of the neurobiology of behavior. It consists of five parts. Part 1: “Historical Perspectives, Neurons, Neuroanatomy and Methods” introduces foundational ideas that are built on in subsequent lectures. Part 2: “Sensory and Motor Systems” introduces core ideas and experiments in the study of sensation and action. For example, describing the visual and other sensory processing streams and how the motor system works, including the operation of ‘mirror neurons’ that respond during observation of a movement and making the movement. Part 3: “Emotion, Stress and Social Behavior” covers these topics at the large-scale population level to specific neural circuits. Part 4: “Learning and Memory” explore research examining how we and other animals remember the past and learn new information. Part 5: "Disorders and the Prefrontal Cortex" covers research on neurological disorders such as Alzheimer’s disease and mental health disorders such as schizophrenia and post-traumatic stress disorder, and concludes with the role of the prefrontal cortex in controlling behavior. 

This course provides a study on the Spanish justice system: how the court system works, how judges and court personnel are trained and selected, what contributes to decision making and persecution, and the goals of the court system. It also discusses the penal system, as well as prison sentences and the role of rehabilitation. It examines the role of eyewitness testimonials, past court cases of unjustly prosecuted individuals, and common risk factors for criminal actions.

The course introduces students to Relational Frame Theory (RFT) as an approach to understanding human psychology. It familiarizes students with the philosophical and theoretical underpinning of RFT and explains the core behavioral processes implicated by this approach. It examines up to date RFT-based research into diverse areas of human language and cognition including cognitive development, motivation, problem-solving, and analogical reasoning.

This course offers a study of neuroimaging. The course explores topics including basic methodological notions for the use of neuroimaging techniques as a tool to explore structure and function of the brain; structural techniques such as computational morphometry, diffusion (DTI) and tractography; and functional techniques such as functional magnetic resonance (fMRI), basics of magnetic resonance spectroscopy, and positron emission tomography (PET). The course requires adequate knowledge of brain anatomy and recommends knowledge of the basic concepts of inferential statistics as prerequisites.

This course explores the concepts of, and connection between, society, health, and wellbeing from a sociological, psychological, psychosocial and psycho-cultural perspective. Topics include: implications for wellbeing in a globalized world; sustainability; demography and migration; work, equality, and gender; strategies to support health and prevent disease; lifestyle, quality of life, and community.