PBS papers 2025-26

Please be advised that the PBS course structure has changed from the 2024-25 academic year onwards. The information below is for the papers being run in the 2025-26 academic year and so lists papers from the 'old' and 'new' Tripos structure.

Part IA

PBS01: Introduction to Experimental Psychology and Neuroscience

Explores the core principles of human behavior, cognitive processes, and the neuroscientific underpinnings of the mind. Students will learn about the history and methods of experimental psychology, delve into the structure and function of the brain, and study key areas such as sensation, perception, learning, memory, language and emotion. Through practical classes, students will gain hands-on experience of experimental methods and cognitive phenomena and understand conceptual and ethical practices in research.  

PBS02: Social Psychology, Applied Psychology and Individual Differences

A series of three broad topics will be explored: Social Psychology, Applied Psychology, and Individual Differences. Within each topic, students will be introduced to specific research areas which contribute knowledge to those topics from different research perspectives. They will also see that psychology is a very broad science, full of debates, discrepancies and disagreements. 

PBS03: From Subjective Questions to Objective Science

This paper will comprise of four separate empirical studies, one qualitative and three quantitative, which students should learn to write up in an APA format. Students will complete a series of statistical classes in parallel, which will equip them with the statistical skills required to analyse the quantitative lab reports, and answer questions on a statistics exam.  

Part IB

PBS04: Behavioural and Cognitive Neuroscience

This paper will develop understanding of the behavioural and cognitive neurosciences that were studied at a foundational level in PBS01. Following an introduction to contemporary neuroscience techniques, the course will consider fundamental behavioural neuroscience topics including learning, memory, motivation and emotion before moving on to cognitive neuroscience topics including language and social cognition. Wherever possible, the course will draw on both human and animal evidence to allow for triangulation of information from different research approaches. Teaching includes a range of approaches, including lectures and practicals, with an extended practical in Lent Term helping to develop research skills that will be relevant to research dissertations taken in Part II.

PBS05: Developmental Psychology

(to be updated)

Part II

PBS 5: Research Dissertation

Students conduct an empirical research dissertation from a list given by available supervisors. A dissertation of 7,000 words is submitted at the end of the year, the title for which must be confirmed in Michaelmas Term (but can be subsequently amended). Projects may need ethical approval, which can be gained from the Department of Psychology Ethics Committee at set meetings during the year or from the School of Biological Sciences Research Ethics Committee.

PBS 6: Advanced Topics in Developmental Psychology

This paper has a modular structure. There will be between 3 and 6 modules, each comprised of 8 lectures, and students will be advised to attend at least 3 modules.  

There will be two Michaelmas Term modules entitled 'Risk and Resilience’ (Module 1), and ‘Conduct Problems’ (Module 2). Module 1 will integrate studies of both pre-natal and postnatal risk factors on child development, using premature birth to illustrate how some families experience stressors that are both qualitatively and quantitatively different from the normative challenges facing all new parents. Module 2 will cover research on children with conduct problems, and childhood bullying, and explored the impact of parental imprisonment on a child.  

The two Lent Term modules will be ‘Autism’ (Module 3), and ‘Typical and Atypical Development in Adolescence’ (Module 4). Module 3 will focus on Autism Spectrum Disorder. As well as including both cognitive and computational models, this module will also consider competing explanations for the gender imbalance in the diagnosis of autism. Module 4 will investigate the factors that positively and negatively influence mental health in adolescence, examining biological, psychological and social processes. 

PBS 7: Advanced Topics in Social and Applied Psychology

This paper has a modular structure. There will be between 4 modules, each comprised of 8 lectures... These will include the application of behavioural insights to tackle real world problems like climate change or health, the role of digital and social media in shaping social influence, and how personality psychology can inform our understanding of regional differences in politics and economics, Artificial Intelligence, and online social media.  

PBS 8: The Family

In addition to psychology, this interdisciplinary paper draws on material from sociology, social anthropology, law and other relevant disciplines.  Psychological and social perspectives on family relationships and child development are examined in relation to specific topics such as motherhood, fatherhood, marriage, new family forms, cross-cultural perspectives, adolescence, family relationship breakdown, and family policy. Theories of family life are studied as well as methodologies of family research. 

PBS 9: Cognitive and Experimental Psychology

How do we perceive objects? How do we direct our attention? How do we store and retrieve information? How do we decide what to do next? This paper addresses fundamental questions about the human mind and behaviour. It builds on PBS 4 and is shared with Part II NST students. It covers a wide range of topics in cognitive psychology, and students choose topics that they wish to cover.

PBS 10: Behavioural and Cognitive Neuroscience

What leads to addiction? How do neurotransmitters shape our motivations and actions? What can we learn about human behaviour from other species? This paper builds on PBS4 and is shared with Part II NST students. It covers a wide range of topics in neuroscience, and students choose topics that they wish to cover.