Overview

The main objective of this unit is to provide an understanding of the psychophysiology of emotional processes, the affective and anxiety disorders, schizophrenia, other Axis I disorders and the processes of normal and abnormal aging. This unit examines the underlying neurophysiology associated with the major mental health disorders.

Requisites

Prerequisites
NEU30002 Sleep and Attention
NEU30004 Higher Cortical Function

Rules

Pre-requisite
NEU30002 Sleep and Attention
AND
NEU30004 Higher Cortical Function
OR
25 cp of Level 2 or Level 3 NEU Units

Equivalent
HET631 - Abnormal Psychophysiology (Discontinued)

Teaching periods
Location
Start and end dates
Last self-enrolment date
Census date
Last withdraw without fail date
Results released date
Semester 2
Location
Hawthorn
Start and end dates
03-August-2026
01-November-2026
Last self-enrolment date
16-August-2026
Census date
01-September-2026
Last withdraw without fail date
22-September-2026
Results released date
08-December-2026
Semester 2
Location
Hawthorn
Start and end dates
02-August-2027
31-October-2027
Last self-enrolment date
15-August-2027
Census date
31-August-2027
Last withdraw without fail date
21-September-2027
Results released date
07-December-2027

Unit learning outcomes

Students who successfully complete this unit will be able to:

  1. Critically apply a broad and deep knowledge of the underlying neurobiology of major mental disorders
  2. Compare and contrast techniques in cognitive neuroscience with an advanced understanding of brain and aging
  3. Evaluate current scientific literature and effectively critique findings associated with empirical research
  4. Synthesise, critique and deliver a seminar presentation on an experimental journal article
  5. Evaluate peer review information and produce scientific reports and literature reviews to publication standard

Teaching methods

Hawthorn

Activity Type Activity Total Hours Number of Weeks Hours Per Week
Online Lecture 24 12 weeks 2
On-campus Class 24 12 weeks 2
Unspecified Activities Various 60 12 weeks 5
Specified Activities Group Meetings 42 12 weeks 3.5
Total Hours: 150 Total Hours (per week): 12.5

Assessment

Type Task Weighting ULO's
Assessment Individual  25%  1,3,5
Final-Semester Test Individual  35%  1,2,3
Assessment Individual  40%  3,4,5

Content

  • Ageing: psychophysiology of ageing associated with dementia, Alzheimer's, comorbidities and cognitive decline.
  • Emotional processes: psychophysiological correlates of emotional processes
  • Schizophrenia: biological factors including biochemical abnormalities and brain imaging studies, information processing abnormalities, behavioural measures, models of the disorder and therapeutic approaches
  • Psychopathology: psychophysiology of affective disorders, anxiety disorders, somatoform and dissociative disorders, substance abuse and organic disorders
  • Graduate Attribute – Communication Skills: Verbal communication
  • Graduate Attribute – Communication Skills: Communicating using different media
  • Graduate Attribute – Teamwork Skills: Collaboration and negotiation
  • Graduate Attribute – Teamwork Skills: Teamwork roles and processes
  • Graduate Attribute – Digital Literacies: Information literacy
  • Graduate Attribute – Digital Literacies: Technical literacy

Study resources

Reading materials

A list of reading materials and/or required textbooks will be available in the Unit Outline on Canvas.