Course Catalogue

View Specification Document | Reading List

This course will explore the physiological impact of stress on neurobiological mechanisms and neural circuits and how chronic stress modulates cognitive functions, from altered decision-making to emotional regulation, ultimately shaping behaviours. Through engaging lectures, research-based case studies, and interactive discussions, the students will gain a deep understanding of how different stressors influence cognition and behaviour.

This option is assigned to block S2-D. There is normally a 1-hour session on Friday mornings and a 2-hour session on Friday afternoons each week over 10 weeks.

Normally, only available to final-year Life Sciences students in a Neuroscience programme.  Students from other Life Science degrees and visiting students may be allowed to enrol, at the discretion of the Life Sciences Study Abroad Coordinators and the Course Coordinator.

None

The course will be assessed by 100% in-course assessment consisting of 3 components:

■ a written assessment based on experimental design (60%)

■ a presentation based on a scientific stress-research article (20%)

■ a written assignment based on a scientific stress-research article (20%)

Reassessments are normally available for all courses, except those which contribute to the Honours classification. Where, exceptionally, reassessment on Honours courses is required to satisfy professional/accreditation requirements, only the overall course grade achieved at the first attempt will contribute to the Honours classification. For non-Honours courses, students are offered reassessment in all or any of the components of assessment if the satisfactory (threshold) grade for the overall course is not achieved at the first attempt. This is normally grade D3 for undergraduate students and grade C3 for postgraduate students. Exceptionally it may not be possible to offer reassessment of some coursework items, in which case the mark achieved at the first attempt will be counted towards the final course grade. Any such exceptions for this course are described below. 

The course aims are:

1. To develop the student's knowledge of intrinsic and environmental factors that modulate stress-related cognitive functions and behaviours

2. Understand how animal studies can inform on human stress-related cognitive functions and behaviour

3. To develop the ability to design and critique experiments using original stress-related research articles 

By the end of this course students will be able to:

1. Explain how animal studies can inform on human stress-related cognitive functions and behaviours;

2. Critically discuss intrinsic and environmental factors that modulate stress; 

3. Appraise current experimental techniques and strategies used in stress research; 

4. Design experiments to answer research questions focused on stress research. 

Students must submit at least 75% by weight of the components (including examinations) of the course's summative assessment.