Course Catalogue

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The first half of the course offers a survey of issues, theory, research, and applications associated with health neuroscience. Of general interest is understanding the cognitive, affective, social, and behavioural processes that underlie these behaviours. This material is further organized around habit learning and change within the context of Dual-Process Theory.  The second half of the course will go deeper into the relationship between social interaction and individual well-being.  Of central interest are understanding our evolved social instincts, needs, and desires, and appreciating how these evolved tendencies are expressed, fulfilled, and/or frustrated in an increasingly mediated (and extractive) technological environment.  Extensive examples of methods and tools across disciplines showcase the diverse and sophisticated tools used in health and social neuroscience.

Weekly two-hour lectures

Successful completion of level 3H psychology single honours.

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50% examination - A final examination on the course content of both sections, assessed with multiple choice questions (ILOs 1 & 2).

50% Presentation Set Exercise (50%): Students will complete a set exercise based on a student-selected topic related to the course content that draws on literature identified by the student and addresses a set of target questions provided by the instructors (ILO3). The exercise may include, but is not limited to, presentations, posters, and short written pieces for diverse audiences.

The course introduces students to the fields of health and social neuroscience via specific topics that include habit learning, Dual-Process Theory, loneliness, social attachment, and conversational interaction. Besides being exposed to these exciting and rapidly growing fields, students learn to apply what they learn in a personal project that focuses on a specific health or social behaviour. Students also learn how the course material applies to themselves, better understanding their health and social behaviours.

■ ILO-1.  Understand important psychological and neuroscience processes that underlie a variety of healthy and unhealthy behaviours.

■ ILO-2. Understand the relationship between social behaviour and individual well-being, integrating knowledge about the underlying psychological and biological mechanisms.

■ ILO-3.  Identify a target social and/or health behaviour of interest and discuss and defend it effectively from the perspectives of psychology and neuroscience using materials drawn from course lectures, readings, and independent review of relevant literature.