Unit information: Brains, Behaviour and Evolution in 2021/22

Unit name	Brains, Behaviour and Evolution
Unit code	BIOL20019
Credit points	10
Level of study	I/5
Teaching block(s)	Teaching Block 2C (weeks 13 - 18)
Unit director	Professor. Roberts
Open unit status	Not open
Pre-requisites	None.
Co-requisites	None
School/department	School of Biological Sciences
Faculty	Faculty of Life Sciences

Description including Unit Aims

The field of neuroethology takes a comparative and evolutionary approach to the fundamental link between brains and animal behaviour. Our aims are:

• To teach fundamental concepts about how neural circuits work.
• To examine our current understanding of how sensory information is processed and results in complex behaviour and decision making.
• To describe current research that uses modern interdisciplinary research techniques, for example, transgenics and two-photon imaging, optogenetics, electrophysiology, block face electron microscopy, tracking and AI based tracking and X-ray 3-D imaging.
• To find out how the brains of animals compare.
• To understand the differences between the brains of different animals.
• To understand how brain functions have specialised through the process of evolution.
• To understand complex cognitive abilities such as navigation.

Throughout the course we will emphasize how technological innovations and advances have driven the development of the field over recent years.

Intended Learning Outcomes

By the end of this unit, students should be able to:

1. Explain the basic operation of simple neuronal circuits;
2. Describe the primary structures in the central nervous systems of a variety of species that process sensory information;
3. Describe a range of recent advances in our knowledge of multiple-sensory inputs and the way they determine behaviour;
4. Explain how sensory, morphological, physiological and behavioural adaptations have evolved through natural selection;
5. Contrast alternative models of brain evolution;
6. Critically discuss the relationship between brain size, structure and cognition;
7. Read, understand and evaluate scientific papers on evolutionary neuroethology;
8. Demonstrate understanding of the interdisciplinary nature of the subject areas described in the course;
9. Understand and employ the principles of experimental design, hypothesis testing and statistical analysis of neuroethology data.

Teaching Information

Lectures, directed reading, research and/or problem-solving activities; practical exercises and independent study.

Assessment Information

Coursework (40%) plus summative written assessment (60%) with one essay question to be selected from a choice of two.

Resources

If this unit has a Resource List, you will normally find a link to it in the Blackboard area for the unit. Sometimes there will be a separate link for each weekly topic.

If you are unable to access a list through Blackboard, you can also find it via the Resource Lists homepage. Search for the list by the unit name or code (e.g. BIOL20019).

How much time the unit requires
Each credit equates to 10 hours of total student input. For example a 20 credit unit will take you 200 hours of study to complete. Your total learning time is made up of contact time, directed learning tasks, independent learning and assessment activity.

See the Faculty workload statement relating to this unit for more information.

Assessment
The Board of Examiners will consider all cases where students have failed or not completed the assessments required for credit. The Board considers each student's outcomes across all the units which contribute to each year's programme of study. If you have self-certificated your absence from an assessment, you will normally be required to complete it the next time it runs (this is usually in the next assessment period).
The Board of Examiners will take into account any extenuating circumstances and operates within the Regulations and Code of Practice for Taught Programmes.