Psychology, Psychophysiology Specialization, Ph.D.

Specialization Lead: Richard Sherman, Ph.D.

Psychophysiology is the branch of psychology centering on the physiological bases of human psychological processes. It is the study of the biological bases of behavior among humans. Applied psychophysiology is the subspecialty of psychophysiology which uses knowledge of the biological bases of various behaviors in conjunction with various psychological techniques to help people optimize their behaviors. Applied psychophysiologists are psychologists who develop and use psychological interventions based on such areas as behavioral genetics, hormonal influence on behavior, individual differences in perception, and abnormal physiological patterns to assist clients to recognize and alter problems caused by these biological underpinnings. Common psychophysiological intervention techniques include biofeedback, relaxation training, entrainment, hypnosis, and many others.

Applied psychophysiology focuses on the amelioration/treatment and prevention of disease, as well as creation of optimal functioning patterns in education, sports, and business through teaching people techniques for recognizing and correcting abnormal physiological levels of function and responses. Our clinical concentration or practice focuses on the amelioration / treatment and prevention of disease through teaching people techniques for recognizing and correcting abnormal physiological levels of function and responses. Our non-clinical concentration focuses on teaching clients to function optimally in such environments as the work place, sports, and school. The field has a long history of making major contributions to education and healthcare in both treatment and prevention arenas. For instance, relaxation techniques are widely recognized as being effective in both the treatment and prevention of headaches.

Residential Requirements and Content Delivery

This specialization is designed to be offered mainly via distance education supported by three required residential training sessions per year. The distance courses are typically provided through pre-recorded audiovisual lectures available through the online learning platform and student - teacher web conferences after each lecture. Many of the courses include “laboratory or hands-on” training that take place (a) at Saybrook’s Residential Conferences (RCs); (b) during the annual meetings of the Association for Applied Psychophysiology (AAPB) which meets once per year in various parts of the United States (this is the field’s professional organization); and (c) about seven hours of real-time mentoring via the web.

Prerequisites for Ph.D. in Psychology; Specialization in Psychophysiology:

Everyone entering the specialization must fulfill the following prerequisites:

(a) Certification in Basic Life Support (CPR)

(b) The equivalent of an undergraduate course in general biology

Students accepted into the program who lack any of these prerequisites must complete the CPR Certification and successfully complete those portions of PH 500 Psychophysiology Pro-seminar corresponding to the required prerequisite(s) during the first semester. Each portion of the pro-seminar is charged at a rate of one credit but credits completed during the pro-seminar do not count toward the specialization.

Requirements

The Ph.D. in Psychology; Specialization in Psychophysiology combines online learning for lecture courses, in-person laboratory experiences, seminars, and training experiences for a total of 102 credits. Students who have already taken graduate courses at an accredited school may be eligible to transfer up to 18 credits for previously completed courses deemed equivalent to those in the Psychophysiology specialization. Equivalency of any of these courses will be determined during an individual review of each student’s transcripts.

In addition to transfer credits, students who took psychophysiology courses through Saybrook’s continuing education (CE) program will receive equivalency for these courses as long as they complete all requirements for the doctoral versions of the courses.. Students who have taken more than 18 credits of equivalent coursework at other institutions may not have to repeat these courses. Rather, they can substitute them for additional psychophysiology electives. Students who completed the M.A. in Psychology; Specialization in Psychophysiology do not repeat those courses also required for the doctorate and get full credit for them toward the doctorate. See the Saybrook M.A. in Psychology to Saybrook Ph.D. in Psychology for more details.

Each student completes a doctoral dissertation of publication quality, based on original study under the guidance of a committee consisting of a faculty chair from within the specialization and at least two doctoral level members who are subject matter experts. The program is designed so students work on their dissertations simultaneously with taking didactic courses.

Students must take courses PH 505, 507, 510, 512, and RES1006 before taking any others unless they are given credit for having taken equivalent courses elsewhere. All students will begin seminar PH 572 as soon as they enter the program. The order in which advanced courses are taken is largely at the student’s discretion but should be discussed with the advisor. The degree completion time for a full time student following the default course sequence will average 3-5 years. Any breaks in enrollment may impact completion time.

RES 1006 - Information Competency and Library Use 2 credit(s)
PSY 6020 - Developmental Psychology 3 credit(s)
PSY 7510 - Social Psychology 3 credit(s)
PSY 2025 - Systems of Psychotherapy 3 credit(s)
PH 505 - Introduction to Psychophysiology 3 credit(s)
PH 507A - Anatomy and Physiology for Psychophysiologists 3 credit(s)
PH 507B - Anatomy and Physiology Lab. 1 credit(s)
PH 510A - Psychophysiological Recording and Intervention / General Biofeedback Lecture 3 credit(s)
PH 510B - Psychophysiological Recording and Intervention / General Biofeedback - Lab 1 credit(s)
RES 512A - Research and Statistics in Psychophysiology Lecture 3 credit(s)
RES 512B - Research and Statistics in Psychophysiology - Research Experience 2 credit(s)
PH 517 - Introduction to Behavioral and Alternative Medicine 3 credit(s)
PH 520 - Principles and Theories of Stress Management and Relaxation / Imagery Training 4 credit(s)
PH 527A - EEG Biofeedback: Assessment and Intervention Lecture 3 credit(s)
PH 527B - EEG Biofeedback: Assessment and Intervention - Lab 3 credit(s)
PH 530A - Behaviorally Oriented Techniques I 3 credit(s)
PH 531B - Behaviorally Oriented Techniques II Practical Experience 1 credit(s)
PH 531C - Behaviorally Oriented Techniques III Lab 1 credit(s)
PH 535 - Introduction to Clinical Pharmacology 3 credit(s)
PH 540A - Psychophysiological Assessment of Sleep Lecture 3 credit(s)
PH 540B - Psychophysiological Assessment of Sleep Observational Experience 1 credit(s)
PH 545A - Optimal Functioning: Psychophysiological Applications in the Community, School, Sports, and Workplace Lecture 3 credit(s)
PH 545B - Optimal Functioning: Psychophysiological Applications in the Community, School, Sports, and Workplace Practical Experience 1 credit(s)
PH 550A - Clinical Hypnosis Lecture 3 credit(s)
PH 550B - Clinical Hypnosis - Lab 1 credit(s)
PH 560 - Ethical, Legal, and Professional Standards in Applied Psychophysiology 3 credit(s)
PH 570 - Clinical Practicum and Field Experience 4 credit(s)
PH 572A - Dissertation Planning Seminars 2 credit(s)
PH 572B - Dissertation Planning 2 credit(s)
RES 573 - Dissertation Preparation 3 credit(s)
PH 577 - Case Seminars 3 credit(s)
RES 580A - Dissertation 4 credit(s)
RES 580B - Dissertation 3 credit(s)
RES 580C - Dissertation 3 credit(s)
Psychophysiology Electives - any course with PH Prefix: 15 credit(s)

Total Credits: 102

Add to Portfolio (opens a new window)