Course coordinator
Dr Mick Zeljko
Course overview
- Study period
- Semester 2, 2025 (28/07/2025 - 22/11/2025)
- Study level
- Undergraduate
- Location
- St Lucia
- Attendance mode
- In Person
- Units
- 2
- Administrative campus
- St Lucia
- Coordinating unit
- Psychology School
All psychological phenomena are based in the brain and nervous system. This course overviews the rapidly expanding discipline of neuroscience as relevant to psychologists. Topics include neural changes during learning, cortical control of executive functions and language, control of movement and skilled actions as well as the biological bases of common mental disorders.
The main aim of the course is to develop a critical understanding of neuroscience so that knowledge relevant to psychology in this expanding field can be evaluated by the student. Our approach is a bottom-up hierarchical one: sensory and perceptual processes are essential knowledge for the understanding of neuroscience principles. A secondary aim is to inculcate a feeling of interest in some students who may want to go on to study more advanced topics such as human neuropsychology, sensory neuroscience, or the neuroscience of social behaviour, and prepare them with the methodological background to approach these issues.ﾠTo this end, we will be spending some tutorial time learning a few basic principles of programming in Matlab, as preparation for 3rd-year, honours and potentially PhD-level pursuits.ﾠKnowledge of methodology is fundamental to conceptualising behavioural and neuroscience principles, therefore methodology will be interwoven into all topics covered in the tutorials.ﾠ
Course requirements
Prerequisites
You'll need to complete the following courses before enrolling in this one:
10 units of any courses + (PSYC1020 or NEUR1020) + (PSYC1030 or PSYC1040)
Incompatible
You can't enrol in this course if you've already completed the following:
PSYC2020
Course contact
Course staff
Lecturer
Dr Mick Zeljko
Timetable
The timetable for this course is available on the UQ Public Timetable.
Aims and outcomes
The main aim of the course is to develop a critical understanding of neuroscience so that knowledge relevant to psychology in this expanding field can be evaluated by the student. Our approach is a bottom-up hierarchical one: sensory and perceptual processes are essential knowledge for the understanding of neuroscience principles. A secondary aim is to inculcate a feeling of interest in some students who may want to go on to study more advanced topics such as human neuropsychology, sensory neuroscience, or the neuroscience of social behaviour, and prepare them with the methodological background to approach these issues.ﾠTo this end, we will be spending some tutorial time learning a few basic principles of programming in Matlab, as preparation for 3rd-year, honours and potentially PhD-level pursuits.ﾠKnowledge of methodology is fundamental to conceptualising behavioural and neuroscience principles, therefore methodology will be interwoven into all topics covered in the tutorials.ﾠ
Assessment
Assessment summary
| Category | Assessment task | Weight | Due date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Quiz | Quizzes | 65% |
Quiz 1 25/08/2025 - 29/08/2025 Quiz 2 22/09/2025 - 26/09/2025 Quiz 3 27/10/2025 - 31/10/2025
Quiz will be completed in Tutorials |
| Tutorial/ Problem Set |
Tutorial Worksheets
|
35% |
Content Tutorial 1 Week 2 Wed - Week 2 Fri Content Tutorial 2 Week 4 Wed - Week 4 Fri Content Tutorial 3 Week 6 Wed - Week 6 Fri Content Tutorial 4 Week 7 Wed - Week 7 Fri Content Tutorial 5 Week 8 Wed - Week 8 Fri Content Tutorial 6 Week 10 Wed - Week 10 Fri Content Tutorial 7 Week 11 Wed - Week 11 Fri Content Tutorial 8 Week 12 Wed - Week 12 Fri |
Assessment details
Quizzes
- Mode
- Written
- Category
- Quiz
- Weight
- 65%
- Due date
Quiz 1 25/08/2025 - 29/08/2025
Quiz 2 22/09/2025 - 26/09/2025
Quiz 3 27/10/2025 - 31/10/2025
Quiz will be completed in Tutorials
- Learning outcomes
- L01, L02, L03, L04, L05, L06, L07, L08, L09, L10, L11, L12, L13, L14, L15
Task description
In class Quizzes
3 quizzes to be completed in tutorial classes.
Submission guidelines
Deferral or extension
You may be able to defer this exam.
For full details please review the School of Psychology Student Guidelines - Extensions and Deferred quiz/exam.
Tutorial Worksheets
- In-person
- Mode
- Written
- Category
- Tutorial/ Problem Set
- Weight
- 35%
- Due date
Content Tutorial 1 Week 2 Wed - Week 2 Fri
Content Tutorial 2 Week 4 Wed - Week 4 Fri
Content Tutorial 3 Week 6 Wed - Week 6 Fri
Content Tutorial 4 Week 7 Wed - Week 7 Fri
Content Tutorial 5 Week 8 Wed - Week 8 Fri
Content Tutorial 6 Week 10 Wed - Week 10 Fri
Content Tutorial 7 Week 11 Wed - Week 11 Fri
Content Tutorial 8 Week 12 Wed - Week 12 Fri
- Learning outcomes
- L01, L11, L12, L13, L15
Task description
Eight (of the 11) tutorials are content tutorials. A short answer worksheet (typically 2 or 3 questions each requiring 50-100 words) based on the tutorial activity is to be completed in the final 20 minutes of the tutorial and handed in at the end of the tutorial.
Each worksheet will be worth 5 marks and the best 7 worksheets will form the total worksheet mark (out of 35).
There are no options for deferral or late submission.
Submission guidelines
Deferral or extension
You cannot defer or apply for an extension for this assessment.
There are no extensions or deferrals available. To account for this, only the best 7 of 8 submissions count towards the final mark.
Course grading
Full criteria for each grade is available in the Assessment Procedure.
| Grade | Cut off Percent | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 1 (Low Fail) | 0 - 29.99 |
Absence of evidence of achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: Fails to demonstrate most or all of the basic requirements of the course: |
| 2 (Fail) | 30 - 46.99 |
Minimal evidence of achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: Demonstrates clear deficiencies in understanding and applying fundamental concepts; communicates information or ideas in ways that are frequently incomplete or confusing and give little attention to the conventions of the discipline: |
| 3 (Marginal Fail) | 47 - 49.99 |
Demonstrated evidence of developing achievement of course learning outcomes Course grade description: Demonstrates superficial or partial or faulty understanding of the fundamental concepts of the field of study and limited ability to apply these concepts; presents undeveloped or inappropriate or unsupported arguments; communicates information or ideas with lack of clarity and inconsistent adherence to the conventions of the discipline: |
| 4 (Pass) | 50 - 64.99 |
Demonstrated evidence of functional achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: Demonstrates adequate understanding and application of the fundamental concepts of the field of study; develops routine arguments or decisions and provides acceptable justification; communicates information and ideas adequately in terms of the conventions of the discipline: |
| 5 (Credit) | 65 - 74.99 |
Demonstrated evidence of proficient achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: Demonstrates substantial understanding of fundamental concepts of the field of study and ability to apply these concepts in a variety of contexts; develops or adapts convincing arguments and provides coherent justification; communicates information and ideas clearly and fluently in terms of the conventions of the discipline: |
| 6 (Distinction) | 75 - 84.99 |
Demonstrated evidence of advanced achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: As for 5, with frequent evidence of originality in defining and analysing issues or problems and in creating solutions; uses a level, style and means of communication appropriate to the discipline and the audience: |
| 7 (High Distinction) | 85 - 100 |
Demonstrated evidence of exceptional achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: As for 6, with consistent evidence of substantial originality and insight in identifying, generating and communicating competing arguments, perspectives or problem solving approaches; critically evaluates problems, their solutions and implications: |
Supplementary assessment
Supplementary assessment is available for this course.
Additional assessment information
If any potential academic integrity has been identified, the mark will be withheld and the case referred to the Integrity officer.
Learning resources
You'll need the following resources to successfully complete the course. We've indicated below if you need a personal copy of the reading materials or your own item.
Library resources
Library resources are available on the UQ Library website.
Learning activities
The learning activities for this course are outlined below. Learn more about the learning outcomes that apply to this course.
Filter activity type by
Please select
| Learning period | Activity type | Topic |
|---|---|---|
Week 1 |
Lecture |
Course Introduction; Methods in Neuroscience Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03, L04, L05, L14 |
Week 2 |
Lecture |
Neuroanatomy 1: Gross Neuroanatomy Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03, L04, L05 |
Tutorial |
Content Tutorial 1 Learning outcomes: L08, L09, L10, L11, L12, L13, L14 |
|
Week 3 |
Lecture |
Neuroanatomy 2: Cellular Neuroanatomy Learning outcomes: L02, L03, L04, L14 |
Week 4 |
Lecture |
Evolution Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03, L04, L05, L06, L07, L08 |
Tutorial |
Content Tutorial 2 Learning outcomes: L08, L09, L10, L11, L12, L13, L14 |
|
Week 5 |
Lecture |
Sensory Neuroscience 1 Learning outcomes: L04, L05, L06, L07, L08 |
Week 6 |
Lecture |
Sensory Neuroscience 2 Learning outcomes: L04, L05, L06, L07, L08 |
Tutorial |
Content Tutorial 3 Learning outcomes: L11, L12, L13 |
|
Week 7 |
Lecture |
Sensory Neuroscience 3 Learning outcomes: L04, L05, L06, L07, L08 |
Tutorial |
Content Tutorial 4 Learning outcomes: L05, L06, L12 |
|
Week 8 |
Lecture |
Motor Systems Learning outcomes: L04, L05, L07, L08 |
Tutorial |
Content Tutorial 5 Learning outcomes: L11, L12, L13, L14 |
|
Week 9 |
Lecture |
Motivation and Addiction Learning outcomes: L05, L06, L07, L08 |
Week 10 |
Lecture |
Attention and Cognition Learning outcomes: L05, L06, L07, L08 |
Tutorial |
Content Tutorial 6 Learning outcomes: L11, L12, L13, L14 |
|
Week 11 |
Lecture |
Stress and the Autonomic Nervous System Learning outcomes: L05, L06, L07, L08 |
Tutorial |
Content Tutorial 7 Applications and scripting a simple experiment. Learning outcomes: L15 |
|
Week 12 |
Lecture |
Neuroplasticity Learning outcomes: L05, L06, L07, L08 |
Tutorial |
Content Tutorial 8 Applications and scripting a simple experiment. Learning outcomes: L15 |
Policies and procedures
University policies and procedures apply to all aspects of student life. As a UQ student, you must comply with University-wide and program-specific requirements, including the:
- Student Code of Conduct Policy
- Student Integrity and Misconduct Policy and Procedure
- Assessment Procedure
- Examinations Procedure
- Reasonable Adjustments for Students Policy and Procedure
Learn more about UQ policies on my.UQ and the Policy and Procedure Library.
School guidelines
Your school has additional guidelines you'll need to follow for this course: