Psychology
Bachelor	Length of the Programme: 4	Number of Credits: 240	TR-NQF-HE: Level 6	QF-EHEA: First Cycle	EQF: Level 6

Ders Genel Tanıtım Bilgileri

School/Faculty/Institute

Faculty of Econ., Admin. and Social Sciences

Course Code

PSYC 374

Course Title in English

Neuropsychopharmacology

Course Title in Turkish

Nöropsikofarmakoloji

Language of Instruction

Type of Course

Flipped Classroom

Level of Course

Introductory

Semester

Fall

Contact Hours per Week

Lecture: 2

Recitation:

Lab:

Other:

Estimated Student Workload

153 hours per semester

Number of Credits

6 ECTS

Grading Mode

Standard Letter Grade

Pre-requisites

PSYC 207 - Physiological Psychology

Expected Prior Knowledge

Physiological psychology

Co-requisites

None

Registration Restrictions

Only Undergraduate Students

Overall Educational Objective

To learn the role of drug actions on the nervous system and understand the mechanisms by which drugs alter brain function; to be able to understand and critique research articles published.

Course Description

In the scope of the lecture the students will understand to principles of Neuropsychopharmacology and pathologies of the central nervous system from a single neuron to neural network and can describe the action mechanisms of drugs.

Course Description in Turkish

Ders kapsamında öğrenciler nöropsikofarmakoloji prensiplerini ve merkezi sinir sisteminin patolojilerini tek bir nörondan sinir ağına kadar anlayacak ve ilaçların etki mekanizmalarını tanımlayabileceklerdir.

Course Learning Outcomes and Competences

Upon successful completion of the course, the learner is expected to be able to:
1) understand the fundamentals of neuropsychopharmacology;
2) understand the mechanism of drugs used in the central nervous system;
3) evaluate scientific articles according to the research methods and basic mechanisms;
4) create new research ideas;
5) discuss the neuropsychopharmacology mechanisms and research methods ethically.

Program Learning Outcomes/Course Learning Outcomes	1	2	3	4	5
1) Thorough knowledge of the major concepts, theoretical perspectives, empirical findings, and historical trends in psychology.
2) Understanding of and ability to apply essential research methods in psychology, including research design, data analysis, and data interpretation.
3) Competence to use critical and creative thinking, skeptical inquiry and a scientific approach to solving problems related to behavior and mental processes.
4) Understanding and ability to apply psychological principles, skills and values in personal, social, and organizational contexts.
5) Ability to weigh evidence, to tolerate ambiguity, and to reflect other values that underpin psychology as a discipline.
6) Internalization and dissemination of professional ethical standards.
7) Demonstration of competence in information technologies, and the ability to use computer and other technologies for purposes related to the pursuit of knowledge in psychology and the broader social sciences.
8) Skills to communicate the knowledge of psychological science effectively, in a variety of formats, in both Turkish and in English (in English, at least CEFR B2 level).
9) Recognition, understanding, and respect for the complexity of sociocultural and international diversity.
10) Recognition for the need for, and the skills to pursue, lifelong learning, inquiry, and self-improvement.
11) Ability to formulate critical hypotheses based on psychological theory and literature, and design studies to test those hypotheses.
12) Ability to acquire knowledge independently, and to plan one’s own learning.
13) Demonstration of advanced competence in the clarity and composition of written work and presentations.

Relation to Program Outcomes and Competences

N None	S Supportive	H Highly Related

	Program Outcomes and Competences	Level	Assessed by
1)	Thorough knowledge of the major concepts, theoretical perspectives, empirical findings, and historical trends in psychology.	N
2)	Understanding of and ability to apply essential research methods in psychology, including research design, data analysis, and data interpretation.	N
3)	Competence to use critical and creative thinking, skeptical inquiry and a scientific approach to solving problems related to behavior and mental processes.	H	Exam
4)	Understanding and ability to apply psychological principles, skills and values in personal, social, and organizational contexts.	S	Participation
5)	Ability to weigh evidence, to tolerate ambiguity, and to reflect other values that underpin psychology as a discipline.	N
6)	Internalization and dissemination of professional ethical standards.	S	Presentation
7)	Demonstration of competence in information technologies, and the ability to use computer and other technologies for purposes related to the pursuit of knowledge in psychology and the broader social sciences.	S	Participation,Project
8)	Skills to communicate the knowledge of psychological science effectively, in a variety of formats, in both Turkish and in English (in English, at least CEFR B2 level).	S	Exam,Participation
9)	Recognition, understanding, and respect for the complexity of sociocultural and international diversity.	N
10)	Recognition for the need for, and the skills to pursue, lifelong learning, inquiry, and self-improvement.	S	Project
11)	Ability to formulate critical hypotheses based on psychological theory and literature, and design studies to test those hypotheses.	S	Participation
12)	Ability to acquire knowledge independently, and to plan one’s own learning.	S	Project
13)	Demonstration of advanced competence in the clarity and composition of written work and presentations.	H	Participation

Prepared by and Date	ESİN TUNA , March 2022
Course Coordinator	BANU FEMİR GÜRTUNA
Semester	Fall
Name of Instructor	Öğr. Gör. ESİN TUNA

Course Contents

Week	Subject
1)	Introduction to the central nervous system
2)	Basic Principles of Neuropharmacology
3)	Cellular Basis of Communication
4)	Neural Substrates of Drug Action
5)	Pain, Inflammation and Disorders
6)	Sleep, Arousal and Disorders
7)	REVISION
8)	MIDTERM
9)	Mood, Emotion and Disorders
11)	Neurodegenerative Diseases
12)	Addictive Disorder
13)	Schizophrenia and Other Psychoses
14)	Seizure Disorders
15)	Final Examination Period
16)	Final Examination Period

Required/Recommended Readings

Roland Seifert - Basic Knowledge of Pharmacology Molecular Neuropharmacology, A Foundation for Clinical Neuroscience. Eric Nestler, Steven Hyman, Robert Malenka

Teaching Methods

This course will be taught entirely in the flipped format. Students will be assigned an introductory online lecture every week as well as an reading chapter. First part of class time, I will first give a short review of online lecture with class, after that students will be asked to discuss the questions that previously prepared by them. Second part of class time i will give the main lecture and then question and answer session will occur. Students will be expected to prepare for class by spending sufficient time to master the preparatory materials. They will also be expected to prepare questions about the lecture for discussion and Q&A session. I as the instructor commit to preparing and selecting high-quality materials for each class, at an appropriate, not-too-difficult level of English.

Homework and Projects

Students will be asked to coordinate one of the discussion sessions of the course based on the assigned required reading of an article published in neuropsychopharmacology and related sciences. They will be asked to read the articles and prepare discussion questions prior to the discussion class. They will be asked to find a topic that related to the lecture and make a presentation. The purpose of this presentation is to increase interest in the subject and to enable students to make presentations based on their interests.

Laboratory Work

Computer Use

Other Activities

Students will be asked to read each week’s book chapter prior to that week’s classroom session. Classroom discussions will be based on these readings as well as various videos, presentations. If it is needed classroom play will occur for better understanding.

Assessment Methods

Assessment Tools	Count	Weight
Attendance	1	% 15
Application	1	% 15
Midterm(s)	1	% 30
Final Examination	1	% 40
TOTAL		% 100

Course Administration

Attendance at all classes is mandatory. Students arriving after first part of class time or unprepared will be barred from that class, which will impact upon their continuous assessment grade. Students must provide a documented excuse for missing a scheduled exam. There will be a make-up exam if students miss the midterm. Make-up exams could be in a different format than midterm or final exam. Students are expected to treat university personnel and one another respectfully at all times; this includes showing respect for class content and for others’ opinions. The commitment of acts of cheating, lying, and deceit in any of their diverse forms such as plagiarism, and copying during examinations is dishonest and will not be tolerated. Academic dishonesty and plagiarism: YÖK Disciplinary Regulation.

ECTS Student Workload Estimation

Activity	No/Weeks	Hours			Calculation
	No/Weeks per Semester	Preparing for the Activity	Spent in the Activity Itself	Completing the Activity Requirements
Course Hours	14	2	3	1	84
Application	1	14	21	2	37
Midterm(s)	1	8	2	2	12
Final Examination	1	16	2	2	20
Total Workload					153
Total Workload/25					6.1
ECTS					6