This course surveys structural and functionalýrelations of central nervous system,ýphysiology, sensory processes, and behavior.ýStudy is divided into two subsections: (1)ýphysiological psychology and (2) evolution,ýgenetics, and behavior. Students become familiarýwith the biology of memory and theýbiological/genetic aspects of psychiatricýdisorders. ýýKnowledge of the functioning of the brain at theýanatomical, cellular, and molecular levelsýunderpins any understanding of behavior.ýBiological Bases of Behavior provides fundamentalýknowledge of brain functions in the interest ofýproviding an understanding of the foundationalýgrounding from which all behavior comes.ýAttention is paid to the physiology of the brain;ýthe environmental, genetic and evolutionaryýinfluences on the brain; and the ways in whichýthe brain processes information, recordsýemotions, and instantiates memory and learning.ýýThe course includes an understanding of howýinformation from the environment is processed,ýthe underlying mechanisms of affect andýreinforcement, how experience can alter theýbrain, and what limitations are imposed on anýindividual following neural damage. It alsoýincludes a solid understanding of the evolutionýof mechanisms involved in behavior, as well asýthe putative mechanisms of medications in theýbrain.