Course Details in 2025/26 Session

Module Title	LH The Neurobiology of Mental Illness
School	School of Psychology
Department	School of Psychology
Module Code	03 40323
Module Lead	Dr Sarah Abi Gerges
Level	Honours Level
Credits	20
Semester	Semester 1
Pre-requisites
Co-requisites
Restrictions	None
Contact Hours	Lecture-20 hours Seminar-4 hours Tutorial-10 hours Guided independent study-166 hours Total: 200 hours
Exclusions
Description	Psychiatric disorders are understood to occur as a result of a specific pathology in the brain. Yet ultimately, the diagnosis is made primarily through diagnostic interviews. There are currently no single objective biological marker for any psychiatric disorder. Cognitive control refers to processes that allow us to flexibly adapt our behavior according to our internal goals and external environmental demand. Such processes afford us the capacity to control our thoughts, feelings, and actions. The failure cognitive control processes in the brain widely believed to underlie many psychiatric disorders. The aim of this module is to discuss the breakdown of cognitive control in different psychiatric disorders such as OCD, ADHD, schizophrenia and addiction. We will also discuss how different types of treatment such as neuropharmacology and deep-brain stimulation are hypothesised to benefit psychiatric patients through restoring control. Lecture 1: Freud, neuroscience, and modern-day mental illness Lecture 2: The neurobiology of cognitive control Lecture 3: OCD Lecture 4: ADHD Lecture 5: Schizophrenia Lecture 6: Models of Addiction Lecture 7: Recent ground-breaking findings Lecture 8: Psychopathy Lecture 9: Psychosurgery Lecture 10 Manipulation of cognition, ethical issues Lecture 11: Revision
Learning Outcomes	By the end of the module students should be able to: Demonstrate a systematic understanding of cognitive control and how it is believed to be mediated throughout the brain. Demonstrate a systematic understanding how cognitive control is aberrant in the discussed psychiatric disorders. Critically evaluate the research based knowledge relating to the efficacy of neuropharmacology as well deep brain stimulation, as well as historical account of psychosurgery.
Assessment
Assessment Methods & Exceptions	Assessment: Assessments: 1. Written coursework portfolio, 2000-4000 words (100% of 20 credit module) Reassessment: 1. Written coursework portfolio, 2000-4000 words (100% of 20 credit module)
Other
Reading List