This course introduces you to the scientific study of mind and behavior.
Psychological research uses a wide variety of approaches and addresses
questions about behavior at a number of different levels, ranging from
investigations of specific chemicals in single cells in the brain, through
experiments on the traits and behaviors of individuals, to the study of
groups, organizations, and whole nations.  Despite the wide range of
topics, and what seem to be very different techniques, all sub-areas of
psychology share certain major ideas and scientific methods.  In this
course, you will be introduced to those ideas and methods.  You'll learn
something about where they originated and how they are used in some
specific areas of research.  This first course concentrates on the
biological bases for behavior--in evolution and in the mechanisms of the
brain and nervous systems--and on some basic processes of perceiving,
learning, and remembering.  If you take other psychology courses, you will
find that the general lessons from this course will be useful in other
areas of the field.