6 points, SCA Band 1, 0.125 EFTSL
Undergraduate - Unit
Refer to the specific census and withdrawal dates for the semester(s) in which this unit is offered.
Faculty
Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences
Organisational Unit
School of Psychological Sciences
Chief examiner(s)
Coordinator(s)
Unit guides
Prerequisites
48 credit points.
Synopsis
Sleep and circadian rhythms are fundamental for the maintenance of general health, performance and mood. This unit will give students an understanding of the neurobiological processes that control sleep and circadian rhythms, as well as the consequences of their dysfunction.
The unit will be comprised of lectures and in-person workshops. Each student will have the opportunity to attend 5 workshops over the course of the unit, with the final workshop focused on helping students complete their final assessment (attendance optional for the final workshop). The lectures will focus on both the functions of sleep and circadian rhythms and their neurobiological underpinnings in both health and disease states.
Topics that will be covered will include: sleep function and neurobiology, circadian function and neurobiology, impact of sleep and circadian dysfunction on mood and cognition, sleep and metabolism, sleep disorders, and sleep and circadian interventions for optimising health and safety.
At the end of the unit, students are expected to have an understanding of core concepts in the fields of sleep and circadian rhythms. This unit will provide students with a solid foundation in sleep and circadian rhythms research, a growing strength in Australia.
Outcomes
Upon successful completion of this unit, students should be able to:
- Demonstrate an understanding of sleep and circadian rhythms research and its importance for optimal general health, cognitive function, and mood.
- Explain the neurobiological control of both sleep and circadian rhythms.
- Describe and contrast the major sleep disorders, their measurement and impact on health.
- Apply practical and theoretical skills underlying several major methods for conducting sleep and circadian research.
- Communicate findings of sleep and circadian rhythms to others through the conference-style presentation of research results.
Assessment
NOTE: From 1 July 2019, the duration of all exams is changing to combine reading and writing time. The new exam duration for this unit is 2 hours and 10 minutes.
- Examination (MCQ) (2 hours) (50%)
- Poster (1,000 words) (25%)
- Online quizzes (25%)
Workload requirements
One x 2 hour lectures each week.
For each week during the semester that students are not engaged in a workshop, students will be expected to independently complete the equivalent of 2 hours independent study that is linked to their workshop activities.
For each week during the semester, students will be expected to complete the equivalent of 2 hours preparation for each lecture, 2 hours preparation for each workshop and 4 hours of research work/independent study (total = 12 hours study).
See also Unit timetable information