Overview

This cross-disciplinary module bridges the boundaries between psychology and physiology to offer a holistic perspective of how mind and body interact to explain human behaviour. Through a combination of lectures, seminars, hands-on workshops, and lab practicals, students will gain experience of how to acquire, process, interpret, and utilize physiological signals of interest for sport, exercise, and health, such as the electrocardiogram and the electroencephalogram. This module is designed and 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. Example topics covered include: How monitoring eye movements can reveal attentional strategies in sports; How natural variability in the heart rate can inform about autonomic health and stress; How brainwaves can reveal whether athletes are in their optimal mental state to perform; How individuals can learn to deliberately control their biological activity to benefit their health or performance. Psychophysiology is an emerging discipline in human and behavioural science. We look forward to sharing our passion for this discipline with all who take this module.

Students on this module will learn about the most influential psychophysiological techniques and models in sport, exercise, and health. Topics may include: General principles of biosignal acquisition, processing, and interpretation; How biological activity (Oculomotor, Cardiovascular, Respiratory, Cerebral) can be monitored to reveal mechanisms behind human behaviour and health; How biofeedback training can teach individuals to self-regulate their physiology; Historical roots, current hot topics, and future trends in psychophysiology.

Assessment Strategy

Excellent (Grade A) 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.

Good (Grade 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.

Pass (Grade C or D at Level 4-6: Grade C at Level 7) 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.

Learning Outcomes

• Analyse strategies for the acquisition, processing, and interpretation of biosignals of psychological interest

• Compose a methodological report of psychophysiological experiments in the style of a peer-reviewed scientific publication

• Evaluate critically the merits and shortcomings of research in sport and exercise psychophysiology