Skills

Psychology 4: Biological Psychology and Neuroscience

12 weeks · 3 milestones

Neurons, the brain and behaviour. Course 4 of the Varsity Curriculum: Psychology. Free sources only. Foundations only. Not a clinical or counselling qualification.

Part of: Psychology · Proves for: UG

Milestone map

3 milestones

Explain how neurons signal

4 weeks (about 6 hrs/week)

Read OpenStax chapter 3 and the first MIT 9.01 lectures. Self-check: chapter 3 review questions. Then make a notebook that simulates a neuron firing (a simple integrate-and-fire model) and explains each part.

Proof required

Link the public repo with a notebook that simulates a neuron firing (a simple integrate-and-fire model) and explains each part: the notebook, the data (or a link to the open dataset) and a README saying what it shows.

What gets checked

The model's parts map to real neuron parts.
Changing an input changes the firing as expected.
The README explains it without jargon.

Common mistakes

Results the files cannot reproduce.
A summary of the reading instead of your own work.

Powstik Guide

A notebook that simulates a neuron firing (a simple integrate-and-fire model) and explains each part.

Steps

Read the linked chapter and take the self-check.
Make a public repo.
Build the smallest version that works, then check it.
Write a README: the question, the method, what you found, the limits.
Ask someone who knows psychology to check it.

Template

README
Course 4: Biological Psychology and Neuroscience
Question:
Data (source, n, how it was collected):
Method:
Result:
Limits:

What gets sent back

No data or no code.
Data from people that breaks the rules above.
Copied work with no history.

Resources

Foundationstart here

Depthgo deeper

What a verifier looks for

The model's parts map to real neuron parts.
Changing an input changes the firing as expected.
The README explains it without jargon.
Do the files produce what the README says?

You'll sign in first, then come straight back here.

Map brain areas to functions

4 weeks (about 6 hrs/week)

Work through MIT 9.01 on brain systems and the Noba module on the nervous system. Self-check: MIT 9.01 assignments. Then make a cited guide to six brain areas: what each does and the evidence (lesion, imaging or stimulation).

Proof required

Link the public repo or shared document with a cited guide to six brain areas: what each does and the evidence (lesion, imaging or stimulation), with every source cited.

What gets checked

Each claim cites a study.
The kind of evidence is named for each.
Overclaims (one area = one function) are avoided.

Common mistakes

Results the files cannot reproduce.
A summary of the reading instead of your own work.

Powstik Guide

A cited guide to six brain areas: what each does and the evidence (lesion, imaging or stimulation).

Steps

Read the linked chapter and take the self-check.
Make a public repo.
Build the smallest version that works, then check it.
Write a README: the question, the method, what you found, the limits.
Ask someone who knows psychology to check it.

Template

README
Course 4: Biological Psychology and Neuroscience
Question:
Data (source, n, how it was collected):
Method:
Result:
Limits:

What gets sent back

No data or no code.
Data from people that breaks the rules above.
Copied work with no history.

Resources

Foundationstart here

Depthgo deeper

What a verifier looks for

Each claim cites a study.
The kind of evidence is named for each.
Overclaims (one area = one function) are avoided.
Do the files produce what the README says?

You'll sign in first, then come straight back here.

Present a neuroscience finding

4 weeks (about 6 hrs/week)

Pick one recent open-access paper linked from the MIT 9.01 readings. Self-check: MIT 9.01 assignments. Then make a one-page poster on one neuroscience finding: the question, the method, the result and its limits.

Proof required

Add a one-page poster on one neuroscience finding: the question, the method, the result and its limits as a PDF and name the people who reviewed it with you, with their questions.

What gets checked

The method is explained correctly.
Limits are stated.
Questions from reviewers are answered.

Common mistakes

Reading slides aloud with no questions taken.
Claims with no study behind them.

Powstik Guide

A one-page poster on one neuroscience finding: the question, the method, the result and its limits.

Steps

Read the linked chapter and take the self-check.
Plan the talk or poster around one question.
Present it to at least two people who know some psychology.
Write down their questions and your answers.

Template

Plan
Course 4: Biological Psychology and Neuroscience
Question:
Studies I cite:
What I expect to be asked:

What gets sent back

Nobody heard it.
No sources.

Resources

Foundationstart here

Depthgo deeper

What a verifier looks for

The method is explained correctly.
Limits are stated.
Questions from reviewers are answered.
Did the person explain it in their own words and answer a question?

You'll sign in first, then come straight back here.

Part of

Psychology 4: Biological Psychology and Neuroscience →

Related outcomes

Milestone map

3 milestones

Explain how neurons signal

4 weeks (about 6 hrs/week)

Proof required

What gets checked

The model's parts map to real neuron parts.
Changing an input changes the firing as expected.
The README explains it without jargon.

Common mistakes

Results the files cannot reproduce.
A summary of the reading instead of your own work.

Powstik Guide

A notebook that simulates a neuron firing (a simple integrate-and-fire model) and explains each part.

Steps

Read the linked chapter and take the self-check.
Make a public repo.
Build the smallest version that works, then check it.
Write a README: the question, the method, what you found, the limits.
Ask someone who knows psychology to check it.

Template

README
Course 4: Biological Psychology and Neuroscience
Question:
Data (source, n, how it was collected):
Method:
Result:
Limits:

What gets sent back

No data or no code.
Data from people that breaks the rules above.
Copied work with no history.

Resources

Foundationstart here

Depthgo deeper

What a verifier looks for

The model's parts map to real neuron parts.
Changing an input changes the firing as expected.
The README explains it without jargon.
Do the files produce what the README says?

You'll sign in first, then come straight back here.

Map brain areas to functions

4 weeks (about 6 hrs/week)

Proof required

Link the public repo or shared document with a cited guide to six brain areas: what each does and the evidence (lesion, imaging or stimulation), with every source cited.

What gets checked

Each claim cites a study.
The kind of evidence is named for each.
Overclaims (one area = one function) are avoided.

Common mistakes

Results the files cannot reproduce.
A summary of the reading instead of your own work.

Powstik Guide

A cited guide to six brain areas: what each does and the evidence (lesion, imaging or stimulation).

Steps

Read the linked chapter and take the self-check.
Make a public repo.
Build the smallest version that works, then check it.
Write a README: the question, the method, what you found, the limits.
Ask someone who knows psychology to check it.

Template

README
Course 4: Biological Psychology and Neuroscience
Question:
Data (source, n, how it was collected):
Method:
Result:
Limits:

What gets sent back

No data or no code.
Data from people that breaks the rules above.
Copied work with no history.

Resources

Foundationstart here

Depthgo deeper

What a verifier looks for

Each claim cites a study.
The kind of evidence is named for each.
Overclaims (one area = one function) are avoided.
Do the files produce what the README says?

You'll sign in first, then come straight back here.

Present a neuroscience finding

4 weeks (about 6 hrs/week)

Proof required

Add a one-page poster on one neuroscience finding: the question, the method, the result and its limits as a PDF and name the people who reviewed it with you, with their questions.

What gets checked

The method is explained correctly.
Limits are stated.
Questions from reviewers are answered.

Common mistakes

Reading slides aloud with no questions taken.
Claims with no study behind them.

Powstik Guide

A one-page poster on one neuroscience finding: the question, the method, the result and its limits.

Steps

Read the linked chapter and take the self-check.
Plan the talk or poster around one question.
Present it to at least two people who know some psychology.
Write down their questions and your answers.

Template

Plan
Course 4: Biological Psychology and Neuroscience
Question:
Studies I cite:
What I expect to be asked:

What gets sent back

Nobody heard it.
No sources.

Resources

Foundationstart here

Depthgo deeper

What a verifier looks for

The method is explained correctly.
Limits are stated.
Questions from reviewers are answered.
Did the person explain it in their own words and answer a question?

You'll sign in first, then come straight back here.