This course provides the basics of how the mind and body work together. It includes behavioral genetics, research techniques, psychophysiology of behaviors such as eating and drinking, respiration, pain, etc.

Features:
• Courses are accepted by BCIA for both certification and recertification.
• All distance courses are conducted at your own pace.
• All of the distance / home learning courses are based on audiovisual lectures sent to you on CDs, readings, and extensive interaction with your instructor.
• You and your instructor will discuss how the course relates to your own interests.
• CE credits are given through California’s Board of Behavioral Sciences.

Course Concept and Description:

This continuing education course in the biological basis of behavior / introduction to psychophysiology is the equivalent of a three credit course and provides 45 hours of CE credit. It explores the manifold ways the brain and body work together to produce behavior and the cycle between behavior and physiology. The course begins with a description of the body’s organizational structure and genetics as related to behavior. The basic physiological ways information is received from the external and internal environments through a variety of sensors and then processed by the hormonal / nervous system are described. Typical psychophysiological dysfunctions and interventions are also described. It is helpful to have taken undergraduate biology and psychology courses before taking this course. This course is accepted by the Biofeedback Certification Institute of America (BCIA) for credit toward recertification.

Format: Home study supported by e-mail chats after each unit is completed. The lecture portion of the course is presented through a series of audiovisual lectures profusely illustrated by power-point slides. You will receive CDs containing both the audiovisual lectures and a copy of the slide set upon which the lectures are based so you can make notes on your copy of the slides as you attend the lecture. Reading assignments in the Pinel book parallel the lectures. There are no lectures for a few of the topics. After watching the lecture and reading the chapters, you will answer a brief series of questions. The answered questions are then e-mailed to the instructor. You and the instructor will discuss each unit via e-mail chat after your answers are assessed. After the discussion, you will proceed to the succeeding lecture & chapters.

Required Text: Pinel, John P.J., Biopsychology.¤ Needham Heights, MA:¤ Allyn, & Bacon, 4th ed., 2000 (ISBN 0-205-28992-4) or 5th ed, 2003 (ISBN 0-205-34984-6). You may save money by ordering it on line from any of the large book venders such as Barnes & Nobel or Amazon.

Topics we will cover (Note: Each topic corresponds to one set of review questions.):

1. Definitions and Concepts - what is this field and how does it relate to the rest of the world? (Lecture 1; Pinel chapter 1)

2. Credibility of Information - research techniques, recognizing bad science (Lectures 2, 2.1, 2.2; Pinel chapters 1 and 5 in both editions)

3. Evolution and Behavioral Genetics - evolution of behavior and communication, genetics of behavior (Lecture 2.6; Pinel chapter 2 in both editions)

4. Anatomy and Physiology of the Central and Peripheral Nervous Systems - stomach brain, plastic homunculus (Lectures 3, 3.1, 3.2; Pinel chapters 3& 4 in both editions plus chapter 9 in the 5th edition if you have it)

5. Hormones and Behavior - pheromones, sex, nerve - hormone interactions (Lecture 3.6; Pinel edition 4 chapter 11 or chapter 13 in edition 5)

6. Mechanisms of Sensation/Perception - vision, hearing, touch (pain, electrical), smell, taste, balance/location, etc. (Lectures 4, 4.1; Pinel edition 4 chapters 7 & 8 or chapters 6 & 7 in edition 5)

7.¤ Motor control systems - (Lecture 4.4; Pinel edition 4 chapter 9 or chapter 8 in edition 5)

8.¤ Eating and Drinking - balance and disorders (Lecture 4.6; Pinel edition 4 chapter 10 or chapter12 in edition 5)

9.¤ Biological Rhythms and Sleep (Lecture 4.8; Pinel edition 4 chapter 12 or chapter 14 in edition 5)

10. Drug Addiction (Lecture 5; Pinel edition 4 chapter 13 or chapter 15 in edition 5)

11. Learning, Language, and Memory (Lecture 5.4; Pinel edition 4 chapter 14, 15, & 16 or chapters 11 & 16 in edition 5 )

12. The Malfunctioning Brain - brain damage, neuropsychological problems, developmental problems, chemical imbalances (Lecture 5.6; Pinel edition 4 chapters 6 & 17 or chapter10 in edition 5)

13. Emotions - stress, aggression, mental illness (Lecture 6; Pinel edition 4 chapter 17 or chapters 7 and 18 in edition 5)

14. Psychophysiological interventions (Lectures 9, 9.2, 9.4)

Schedule & Registration: You can begin the course any time you want to and proceed at your own pace.

CE Credit: This is a continuing education, not an accredited course. CE credits are given through the state of California’s Board of Behavioral Sciences (Approval # PCE1895).

BCIA credit: This course is approved by the Biofeedback Certification Institute of America and can be used toward recertification in both general biofeedback and neurofeedback.

Cost: $550 in US dollars This price does not include the cost of recommended texts.

Refund and cancellation policies:¤ Full refund until the CDs are mailed to you. After the CDs are mailed, there is no refund at all as the Foundation has committed its resources to you. A course would only be cancelled due to an extreme emergency on the part of the course instructor or the Foundation. In the highly unlikely event a course is cancelled, you would receive a full refund.