Hunger, Sex, and Sleep

Overview

This unit provides students with instruction in the neural substrates governing essential behaviours and reinforcement learning. Focusing on hunger, sex, and sleep, this unit builds on students' knowledge of brain structure and function and of cognitive processes to examine the interaction between fundamental drives and reinforcement learning to produce behaviours.

Unit learning outcomes

On successful completion of this unit students will be able to:

1. Describe the neural mechanisms underlying appetitive behaviours like sleep, sex, eating, and reinforcement learning
2. Explain how cognitive processes such as attention, decision-making, and memory influence and shape appetitive behaviours
3. Explain the role of neurotransmitters and hormones on motivations and needs, and in modulating appetitive behaviours
4. Critically evaluate research on models and methods used to understand disorders related to appetitive behaviours.
5. Compare different evidence-based interventions for the management of disorders related to appetitive behaviours and evaluate the ethical implications of these interventions

Teaching methods

All applicable locations

Assessment

Content

• Neural mechanisms of hunger, sex, and sleep
• Neural mechanisms of reinforcement learning
• Disorders of motivation and goal-driven behaviours
• Biochemical and hormonal mechanisms in hunger, sex, and sleep
• Graduate Attribute – Communication 1- Verbal Communication
• Graduate Attribute – Communication 2- Communicating using different media
• Graduate Attribute - Teamwork 1- Collaboration and negotiation
• Graduate Attribute – Digital Literacies 1- Information literacy