Run by School of Human and Behavioural Sciences

10.000 Credits or 5.000 ECTS Credits

Now that you are in the second year of your degree, you will have already come to recognize the importance of both psychological and physiological factors in determining sport and exercise engagement and performance. In this module, we will bridge the boundaries between the psychology and physiology disciplines in order to provide you with an appreciation of how these core areas of sport and exercise science inter-relate. By introducing you to some landmark psychophysiological and neuroscientific research in sport and exercise science, you will begin to generate an interdisciplinary understanding of how mind and body interact to explain human behaviour. Through a combination of lectures, seminars and lab practicals, you will gain experience of how to measure psychophysiological signals and how to interpret them to shed light on psychological phenomena. Psychophysiology is a young and exciting branch of sport and exercise science, and we look forward to sharing our passion for this discipline with all who take this module.

The course is delivered by two sport and exercise psychophysiologists who have published their research in some of the leading scientific journals in the field including the discipline flagship "Psychophysiology" and "Biological Psychology" outlets. You will be taught the fundamental principals of psychophysiological signal acquisition, signal processing and inference. This content will be illustrated via lectures and discussions of some landmark sport psychophysiology papers. Example topics covered include: The psychophysiology of preparation for action (how the mind can slow the heart); Event-related-potential research (how brainwaves can be used to shed light on information processing in sport); Exercise and cognition (how exercise can influence psychophysiological reactivity and cognitive performance). The content will be bought to life via lab practical classes running alongside the lectures, where you will learn how to record psychophysiological signals (e.g., electrocardiogram, electromyogram) and will experience taking part in your own psychophysiological experiment.

threshold

D- to C+. The work only demonstrates knowledge of key areas/principles and there is limited evidence of originality or of background study. The work contains some irrelevant material and weaknesses in structure. Arguments are presented but they lack coherence. The work contains factual/computational errors with little evidence of problem solving. There are weaknesses in the standard of the presentation and its accuracy.

good

B- to B+. Work displays sound knowledge and understanding but with some limitations. There is evidence of background study. The work had a defined and logical structure but with some weaknesses in the way in which arguments are presented. There is some original interpretation and demonstration of links between topics. The work is presented carefully with accurate communication and few factual or computational errors.

excellent

A- and above. Work displays comprehensive knowledge and detailed understanding, reflecting extensive background study. The work is highly focussed, well structured, logically presented and with defended arguments. The work contains original interpretation and new links between topics are developed. The work is presented to a high standard with accurate communication and no factual or computational errors.

1. Ability to reflect upon and show understanding of psychophysiological signal acquisition, processing and inference.

2. Critically evaluate key papers applying psychophysiological techniques to sport and exercise.

3. Compose a scientific report of a psychophysiological experiment

		Hours
Practical classes and workshops	Lab practical sessions will provide experience of psychophysiological signal acquisition and will include a laboratory experiment that will form the basis for the Brief Report summative assessment (4 x 1 hour).	4
Private study	The student is expected to devote 80 hours to private study. This will include reading articles, researching the underlying literature, previewing lectures and preparing the coursework.	80
Seminar	Seminars will discuss the taught content of the course, demonstrate key techniques, and provide formative feedback ahead of summative assignments (2 x 2 hour).	4
Lecture	Lectures will cover key principals of psychophysiology and key research papers (6 x 2 hour).	12

• Literacy - Proficiency in reading and writing through a variety of media
• Numeracy - Proficiency in using numbers at appropriate levels of accuracy
• Computer Literacy - Proficiency in using a varied range of computer software
• Self-Management - Able to work unsupervised in an efficient, punctual and structured manner. To examine the outcomes of tasks and events, and judge levels of quality and importance
• Exploring - Able to investigate, research and consider alternatives
• Information retrieval - Able to access different and multiple sources of information
• Inter-personal - Able to question, actively listen, examine given answers and interact sentistevely with others
• Critical analysis & Problem Solving - Able to deconstruct and analyse problems or complex situations. To find solutions to problems through analyses and exploration of all possibilities using appropriate methods, rescources and creativity.
• Safety-Consciousness - Having an awareness of your immediate environment, and confidence in adhering to health and safety regulations
• Presentation - Able to clearly present information and explanations to an audience. Through the written or oral mode of communication accurately and concisely.
• Teamwork - Able to constructively cooperate with others on a common task, and/or be part of a day-to-day working team
• Mentoring - Able to support, help, guide, inspire and/or coach others
• Argument - Able to put forward, debate and justify an opinion or a course of action, with an individual or in a wider group setting
• Self-awareness & Reflectivity - Having an awareness of your own strengths, weaknesses, aims and objectives. Able to regularly review, evaluate and reflect upon the performance of yourself and others

• research and assess paradigms, theories, principles, concepts and factual information, and apply such skills in explaining and solving problems
• critically assess and evaluate data and evidence in the context of research methodologies and data sources
• describe, synthesise, interpret, analyse and evaluate information and data relevant to a professional or vocational context
• plan, design, execute and communicate a sustained piece of independent intellectual work, which provides evidence of critical engagement with, and interpretation of, appropriate data
• apply knowledge to the solution of familiar and unfamiliar problems
• develop a sustained reasoned argument, perhaps challenging previously held assumptions
• demonstrate effective written and/or oral communication and presentation skills
• work effectively independently and with others
• take and demonstrate responsibility for their own learning and continuing personal and professional development
• self-appraise and reflect on practice
• plan and design practical activities using appropriate techniques and procedures whilst demonstrating high levels of relevant skills
• undertake fieldwork with continuous regard for safety and risk assessment.
• demonstrate an understanding of the philosophical basis of scientific paradigms
• demonstrate evidence of competence in the scientific methods of enquiry, and interpretation and analysis of relevant data and statistical outputs.
• develop transferable skills of relevance to careers outside of sport, health and exercise sciences.
• communicate succinctly at a level appropriate to different audiences.
• demonstrate effective robust data collection methods

Talis Reading list

http://readinglists.bangor.ac.uk/modules/jxh-2054.html

Reading list

This is a new module and does not yet exist in the Talis reading list system. Talis reading list will be created when this module is eligible. Example readings will include:

Cacioppo, J. T., & Tassinary, L. G. (1990). Psychophysiology and psychophysiological inference. In J. T. Cacioppo & L. G. Tassinary (Eds.), Principles of psychophysiology: Physical, social, and inferential elements (p. 3–33). Cambridge University Press.

Luck, S. J. (2014). An introduction to the event-related potential technique. MIT press.

Cooke, A., Kavussanu, M., Gallicchio, G., Willoughby, A., McIntyre, D., & Ring, C. (2014). Preparation for action: Psychophysiological activity preceding a motor skill as a function of expertise, performance outcome, and psychological pressure. Psychophysiology, 51(4), 374-384.

Martins, A. Q., Kavussanu, M., Willoughby, A., & Ring, C. (2013). Moderate intensity exercise facilitates working memory. Psychology of sport and exercise, 14(3), 323-328.

Compulsory in courses:

• C616: BSc Sport and Exercise Science year 2 (BSC/SES)
• C63P: BSc Sport and Exercise Science with Placement Year year 2 (BSC/SESP)