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Biological and Behavioral Psychology - PSY201 Fall 2026
Course
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James Pfaus
Lessons
Here is the course outline:
1. Lecture 1: Introduction to Biological Psychology/Structure and function of the nervous systems an...
Aug 31 3pm .. 5:45pm, In class
The scope of biological psychology and neuroscience. Central and peripheral nervous system, basic brain anatomy, types of neurons and glial cells, neuronal cell structure. |
2. Lecture 2: Behavior and motivation
Sep 7 3pm .. 5:45pm, In class
Definitions of motivation; goal-directed behavior; evolution and survival; difference between motivation and drive; homeostasis vs. allostasis, drive reduction, incentive salience, models of reward. |
3. Lecture 3: Thirst and feeding.
Sep 14 3pm .. 5:45pm, In class
: Physiological and neural mechanisms regulating thirst, hunger, satiety; hypothalamus and energy balance. Hedonic regulation, dopamine involvement, learning and social factors in food intake. |
4. Lecture 4: Thirst and feeding (Cont'd)
Sep 21 3pm .. 5:45pm, In class
Continuation of previous lecture. |
5. HOLIDAY: Czech Statehood Day (aka St. Wenceslas Day)
Sep 28, Home or doing something fun
NO CLASS |
6. Lecture 5: Sleep and biological rhythms
Oct 5 3pm .. 5:45pm, In class
Circadian rhythms, sleep stages, REM/NREM, on-off and “flip-flop” switches, biological clocks, melatonin. |
7. Lecture 6: Sleep and mood disorders/Temperature regulation
Oct 12 3pm .. 5:45pm, In class
Sleep disorders, depression, mania, temperature regulation. |
8. MIDTERM EXAM
Oct 19 3pm .. 4:30pm, In class
Midterm Exam |
9. MIDTERM BREAK
Oct 26, Home or doing something fun
Midterm Break |
10. Lecture 7: Sex and reproduction
Nov 2 3pm .. 5:45pm, In class
Neural systems of sexual excitation and inhibition; influence of learning and context. |
11. Lecture 8: Sex and reproduction (Cont'd)
Nov 9 3pm .. 5:45pm, In class
Introduction to excitatory and inhibitory brain systems |
12. Lecture 9: Sex and reproduction
Nov 16 3pm .. 5:45pm, In class
Learning and conditioning |
13. Lecture 10: Parental behavior, aggresssion, stress
Nov 23 3pm .. 5:45pm, In class
Neural systems of sexual excitation and inhibition; influence of learning and context. |
14. Lecture 11: Reward, Addiction, Pleasure, and Optimality
Nov 30 3pm .. 5:45pm, In class
Dopamine system, reward pathways, neurobiology of drug use and reinforcement, hedonic tone, homeostatic and allostatic models of addiction and pleasure; adaptive significance. |
15. Lecture 12: Reward, Addiction, Pleasure, and Optimality (Cont'd)
Dec 7 3pm .. 5:45pm, In class
Continuation of previous lecture. |
16. FINAL EXAM AND PAPER DUE
Dec 14 3pm .. 5:30pm, In class
Final Exam and Term Paper due. |