Psychophysiology

This lecture will introduce students to psychophysiology as a branch of science, its subject matter and key research objectives, as well as its development in a historical context, highlighting the most significant theoretical directions and discoveries. The place of psychophysiology in the context of other sciences will be considered, in particular its relation to psychology, neuroscience and medicine. As part of the lecture, students will become acquainted with the main research methods and technologies used in psychophysiology (for example, electroencephalography, functional magnetic resonance, psychophysiological measurements), as well as their application in the study of psychiatric processes and behaviour. The importance of these methods for the interpretation and critical evaluation of data will also be emphasised as a basis for further learning of the course content.

In this lecture, students will learn the functional organization of the human nervous system by looking at the structure of the central and peripheral nervous system and their role in regulating behavioral and psychiatric processes, as well as understanding reflexes as a mechanism of basic neural activity by analyzing the structure, function and various types of reflexes of the reflex arc. The role of reflexes in adaptive behaviour and their integration into the central nervous system will be explained. The lecture will continue to focus on the functions of the large hemisphere cortex of the brain, looking at its structural and functional organisation, key areas of the cortex (sensors, motors and associative fields) and their role in information processing, movement regulation and providing superior cognitive functions, as well as principles of functional specialisation and interaction between brain regions.

In this lecture, students will learn the basic types of cells specific to the nervous system, paying particular attention to neurons and glia cells, their makeup, function and interaction with each other in the functioning of the nervous system. Neuronal morphology (dendrites, bag, Axon) will be explained. Students will become familiar with different types of neurons and their functional role in sensory, motor and associative systems. Similarly, glia cell functions (such as astrocytes, oligodendrocytes, microglia) will be looked at, highlighting their role in the homeostasis, myelinization, protection and modulation of neural activity of the nervous system.

In this lecture, students will learn the basic principles of neural communication, focusing on the mechanisms of electrical and chemical signal transmission in the nervous system. The generation and spread of operational potential, ion channel operation and changes in membrane potential, as well as synaptic transmission processes including distribution of neurotransmitters, receptor activation and formation of post-synaptic potential will be explained. Students will become familiar with different types of synapses and their functional role in processing information. The lecture will go on to look at neuroplasticity as the nervous system’s ability to change structurally and functionally under the influence of experience.

In this lecture, students will learn the basic principles of how the neuroendocrine system works by analyzing the interaction between the nerve and endocrine system in the body’s regulation. The synthesis, distribution, transport and mechanisms of action of hormones will be looked at, as will the role of key endocrine glands (such as hypothalamus, pituitary, adrenal glands) in regulating physiological processes. Particular attention will be paid to stress physiology when explaining the action of the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, the effects of stress hormones (such as cortisol) on the body and their role in adaptation. Students will become familiar with the effects of acute and chronic stress on the body’s various systems and psychiatric processes, as well as the individual differences in stress response.

In this lecture, students will learn the neurophysiological mechanisms of sleep and waking regulation by analyzing key brain structures and systems involved in maintaining and switching these conditions. The role of reticular formation, hypothalamus and thalamus will be looked at, as will the involvement of neurotransmitter systems (such as serotonin, dopamine, acetylcholine and GABA) in sleep-wake regulation. Students will become familiar with the importance of circadian rhythms, especially the function of the suprahiazmatic nucleus as the center of the biological clock, as well as the homeostatic mechanisms of sleep regulation. The lecture will look at sleep stages (REM and NREM sleep), their physiological properties and their role in cognitive processes such as memory consolidation and emotional regulation. The impact of sleep disorders on mental health and behaviour will also be analysed, forming an understanding of sleep’s role in the body’s overall functioning.

In this lecture, students will learn the neurophysiological basics of sensory systems and perceptions, with a particular focus on the vision system as one of the key information processing systems in the human brain. The structure of the vision system will be looked at, from the structures of the eye and the operation of photoreceptors in the retina to the transmission of visual information along visual paths to the cortex of the brain. Students will become familiar with the principles of encoding visual information, including processing light, colour, shape and movement, as well as the role of the primary and secondary visual cortex in shaping perceptions. The lecture will analyze how neural processes translate physical stimuli into subjective perception, as well as look at principles of perception organization and possible illusions of perception.

In this lecture, students will learn the neurophysiological mechanisms of consciousness and attention by analyzing brain structures and systems involved in providing informed experiences and selective information processing. Key theoretical approaches to consciousness research will be looked at, as will the role of reticular activation system, thalamus and brain cortex in maintaining consciousness. Students will become familiar with types of attention (such as selective, shared and persistent attention) and their neural foundations, including the involvement of frontal-parietal networks in attention regulation. The lecture will analyse the mechanisms governing the prioritisation of information, as well as the interaction between mindfulness and awareness. Disturbances in consciousness and attention and their impact on behaviour and cognitive processes will also be looked at, forming an understanding of the role these functions play in a person’s day-to-day functioning.

In this lecture, students will learn the neurophysiological mechanisms of emotions by analyzing brain structures and functional systems involved in building, processing and regulating emotional responses. The role of the limbic system will be looked at, with a particular focus on the amygdala, hippocampus, hypothalamus and prefrontal cortex, as well as their interaction in the generation and control of emotions. Students will become familiar with the physiological manifestations of emotions, including the involvement of the autonomous nervous system and neuroendocrine system, as well as the role of neurotransmitters and hormones in emotional processes. The lecture will analyse key emotion theories and their neural foundations, as well as the role of emotions in behaviour, decision-making and social interaction, forming an understanding of mechanisms of emotional regulation and their role in mental health.

In this lecture, students will learn the neurophysiological mechanisms of memory and the different types of memory by analyzing the processes that ensure information is encoded, stored and retrieved. Key memory systems will be looked at, including sensory, short - and long-term memory, as well as declarative and non-declarative memory, highlighting their functional differences and neural foundations. Students will become familiar with the role of the hippocampus, prefrontal cortex and other brain structures in memory processes, as well as synaptic mechanisms such as long-term potential that provide learning and memory formation. The lecture will also analyze memory consolidation and the importance of plasticity, as well as memory disorders and their relationship to brain damage or neurodegenerative processes, forming an understanding of memory’s role in cognitive activity and behavior.

In this lecture, students will learn the neurophysiological mechanisms of motivation by analyzing brain structures and systems involved in initiating, maintaining and regulating motivated behavior. The reward system will be looked at, with a particular focus on the mesolimbic dopamine pathway, ventral tegmental field and adjacent core, as well as the prefrontal cortex’s role in decision-making and targeted behaviour. Students will become familiar with the types of motivation and their neural foundations, as well as the role of dopamine and other neurotransmitters in motivational processes. The lecture will analyse the relationship of motivation to emotion, learning and amplification mechanisms, as well as look at the impairment of motivation and its effect on behaviour, forming an understanding of the importance of motivation in a person’s day-to-day functioning and mental health.

This lecture will introduce students to psychophysiology as a branch of science, its subject matter and key research objectives, as well as its development in a historical context, highlighting the most significant theoretical directions and discoveries. The place of psychophysiology in the context of other sciences will be considered, in particular its relation to psychology, neuroscience and medicine. As part of the lecture, students will become acquainted with the main research methods and technologies used in psychophysiology (for example, electroencephalography, functional magnetic resonance, psychophysiological measurements), as well as their application in the study of psychiatric processes and behaviour. The importance of these methods for the interpretation and critical evaluation of data will also be emphasised as a basis for further learning of the course content.

In this lecture, students will learn the functional organization of the human nervous system by looking at the structure of the central and peripheral nervous system and their role in regulating behavioral and psychiatric processes, as well as understanding reflexes as a mechanism of basic neural activity by analyzing the structure, function and various types of reflexes of the reflex arc. The role of reflexes in adaptive behaviour and their integration into the central nervous system will be explained. The lecture will continue to focus on the functions of the large hemisphere cortex of the brain, looking at its structural and functional organisation, key areas of the cortex (sensors, motors and associative fields) and their role in information processing, movement regulation and providing superior cognitive functions, as well as principles of functional specialisation and interaction between brain regions.

In this lecture, students will learn the basic principles of neural communication, focusing on the mechanisms of electrical and chemical signal transmission in the nervous system. The generation and spread of operational potential, ion channel operation and changes in membrane potential, as well as synaptic transmission processes including distribution of neurotransmitters, receptor activation and formation of post-synaptic potential will be explained. Students will become familiar with different types of synapses and their functional role in processing information. The lecture will go on to look at neuroplasticity as the nervous system’s ability to change structurally and functionally under the influence of experience.

In this lecture, students will learn the basic principles of how the neuroendocrine system works by analyzing the interaction between the nerve and endocrine system in the body’s regulation. The synthesis, distribution, transport and mechanisms of action of hormones will be looked at, as will the role of key endocrine glands (such as hypothalamus, pituitary, adrenal glands) in regulating physiological processes. Particular attention will be paid to stress physiology when explaining the action of the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, the effects of stress hormones (such as cortisol) on the body and their role in adaptation. Students will become familiar with the effects of acute and chronic stress on the body’s various systems and psychiatric processes, as well as the individual differences in stress response.

In this lecture, students will learn the neurophysiological mechanisms of motivation by analyzing brain structures and systems involved in initiating, maintaining and regulating motivated behavior. The reward system will be looked at, with a particular focus on the mesolimbic dopamine pathway, ventral tegmental field and adjacent core, as well as the prefrontal cortex’s role in decision-making and targeted behaviour. Students will become familiar with the types of motivation and their neural foundations, as well as the role of dopamine and other neurotransmitters in motivational processes. The lecture will analyse the relationship of motivation to emotion, learning and amplification mechanisms, as well as look at the impairment of motivation and its effect on behaviour, forming an understanding of the importance of motivation in a person’s day-to-day functioning and mental health.

In this lecture, students will learn the neurophysiological mechanisms of memory and the different types of memory by analyzing the processes that ensure information is encoded, stored and retrieved. Key memory systems will be looked at, including sensory, short - and long-term memory, as well as declarative and non-declarative memory, highlighting their functional differences and neural foundations. Students will become familiar with the role of the hippocampus, prefrontal cortex and other brain structures in memory processes, as well as synaptic mechanisms such as long-term potential that provide learning and memory formation. The lecture will also analyze memory consolidation and the importance of plasticity, as well as memory disorders and their relationship to brain damage or neurodegenerative processes, forming an understanding of memory’s role in cognitive activity and behavior.