PSY3071

Human neuropsychology and its evolutionary perspectives

(SCI)

Professor John Bradshaw

6 points + Three 1-hour lectures and one two-hour tutorial per week + First semester + Clayton + Prerequisites: PSY2011 and PSY2022.

Synopsis: This course addresses dysfunction of critical brain areas, circuits or systems, how this contributes to our understanding of normal brain functions and how they may have evolved. It consists of two parts: neuropsychology and the breakdown of normal behaviour (language, object recognition, praxis, memory, thought and consciousness in the contexts of aphasia, alexia, agnosia, amnesia, dementia, Parkinson's, Huntington's and Alzheimer's diseases, Tourette's syndrome, obsessive-compulsive and attention-deficit-hyperactivity disorder, schizophrenia, autism and depression), and the evolution of such behaviours (language, art thought and consciousness). Slides and videos illustrate lectures.

Assessment: Examination: 50% + Tutorial presentation and essay (1500 words): 25% + Tutorial test: 25%