Introduction to Cognitive Neuroscience
| Module title | Introduction to Cognitive Neuroscience |
|---|---|
| Module code | NEU2003 |
| Academic year | 2021/2 |
| Credits | 15 |
| Module staff | Dr Jon Brown (Convenor) Dr Byron Creese (Convenor) |
| Duration: Term | 1 | 2 | 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Duration: Weeks | 11 |
| Number students taking module (anticipated) | 60 |
|---|
Module description
Memory, language, vision, and our conscious experience are central to our identity and are what make us uniquely human. When applied to health, developing, and testing hypotheses which explain the biological basis of these processes are fundamental to our understanding and clinical management of a wide range of neurological and psychiatric conditions. Neuroimaging and electrophysiological techniques like fMRI and EEG are central to research in cognitive neuroscience, while computerised neuropsychological testing provides a framework in which precise cognitive domains can be linked to specific neural pathways. This module will provide a thorough grounding in the methods and core concepts which help us understand the neural correlates of cognition.
This is an optional module for BSc Neuroscience and has no pre-requisite modules.
This module is not suitable for non-specialist students.
Module aims - intentions of the module
You will be introduced to the history and philosophy of cognitive neuroscience before exploring methods in cognitive neuroscience, memory, and other key cognitive processes, and how all of these are linked with the diagnosis and study of neurodegenerative disease.
The module will provide you with a thorough theoretical grounding in core cognitive neuroscience methods including neuroimaging (fMRI), electrophysiology (EEG, TMS) and computerised neuropsychological testing. Through understanding these methods, and through examination data from psychopharmacological and patient studies, you will study cognitive neuroscience with a particular focus on the diagnosis, assessment, and experimental study of diseases of the nervous system.
Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)
ILO: Module-specific skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 1. Describe the historical and philosophical development of cognitive neuroscience.
- 2. Recognise some of the ethical issues raised by carrying out cognitive neuroscience experiments with human participants.
- 3. Discuss how key methodologies are applied in cognitive neuroscience.
- 4. Comprehend key theoretical concepts relating to different aspects of cognitive neuroscience such as, memory, language, attention, vision, and emotion.
- 5. Discuss the effects of drugs on psychological processes (e.g., mood, cognition, and perception).
- 6. Outline how cognitive neuroscience is applied to some diseases of the nervous system (e.g. Alzheimers disease).
ILO: Discipline-specific skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 7. Demonstrate a clear understanding of the principles underpinning data presentation within Cognitive Neuroscience.
- 8. Understand how experiments involving humans contribute to our understanding of the brain
ILO: Personal and key skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 9. Communicate information orally with audio-visual aids
- 10. Synthesise relevant aspects of the scientific literature in the construction of written arguments
Syllabus plan
Whilst the module’s precise content may vary from year to year, an example of an overall structure is as follows:
The module begins with an introductory workshop to outline its broad aims, weekly structure, and assessment processes.
Following this there will be a series of 1-hour lectures covering topics such as:
• History and philosophy of Cognitive Neuroscience
• Consciousness
• Ethics and public engagement
• Methods in cognitive neuroscience, including techniques such as neuroimaging (e.g., function magnetic resonance imaging), electroencephalography, transcranial magnetic stimulation, and neuropsychological testing.
• Key theoretical concepts relating to, for example, memory, language, attention, vision, and emotion.
• Psychopharmacology: the effects of therapeutic and recreational drugs on mood, cognition, and perception.
• Applied cognitive neuroscience.
Alongside lectures, a series of two-hour workshops will cover the critical analysis of scientific papers, presentation of scientific material and experimental design in cognitive neuroscience (including ethical consideration and public engagement/communication of science). These workshops will help you develop the skills needed for the assessments.
The skills and knowledge gain in this module will be assessed by a recorded oral-presentation on an aspect of cognitive neuroscience and an open-book essay examination.
Learning activities and teaching methods (given in hours of study time)
| Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities | Guided independent study | Placement / study abroad |
|---|---|---|
| 30 | 120 | 0 |
Details of learning activities and teaching methods
| Category | Hours of study time | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Scheduled Learning & Teaching activities | 18 | 18 x 1-hour Lectures (live or pre-recorded) |
| Scheduled Learning & Teaching activities | 12 | 6 x 2-hour Workshops |
| Guided independent study | 18 | Lecture preparation |
| Guided independent study | 24 | Workshop preparation |
| Guided independent study | 20 | Writing and preparing coursework |
| Guided independent study | 25 | Wider reading |
| Guided independent study | 33 | Revision |
Formative assessment
| Form of assessment | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
|---|---|---|---|
| Participation in presentation skills and scientific writing workshops | 2 x 2h | 9,10 | Oral |
| Example essay exam question | 1000 words | 1-8, 10 | Written worked example answer (online) |
| Online MCQ questions | 3-5 questions per lecture | 1-8 | Written (online) |
Summative assessment (% of credit)
| Coursework | Written exams | Practical exams |
|---|---|---|
| 30 | 70 | 0 |
Details of summative assessment
| Form of assessment | % of credit | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Recorded oral presentation | 30 | 5 minutes | 2-9 | Written |
| Timed essay exam (open book) | 70 | 24 hours to complete, estimated 2 hours of writing time. Max 1000 words | 1-8, 10 | Written |
Details of re-assessment (where required by referral or deferral)
| Original form of assessment | Form of re-assessment | ILOs re-assessed | Timescale for re-assessment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Recorded oral presentation (30%) | 5 minute recorded oral Presentation | 2-9 | Ref/Def period |
| Timed essay exam (open book) (70%) | Timed essay exam (open book, 24-hour completion; max 1000 words) | 1-8, 10 | Ref/Def period |
Re-assessment notes
Students who are deferred in the Presentation coursework will submit the original assessment.
Students who are referred in the Presentation coursework will submit a new equivalent assessment in the ref/def period.
Please also refer to the TQA section on Referral/Deferral: http://as.exeter.ac.uk/academic-policy-standards/tqa-manual/aph/consequenceoffailure/
Indicative learning resources - Basic reading
“Writing for Science Students” – Boyle & Ramsey?ISBN-13:?978-1137571519
Indicative learning resources - Web based and electronic resources
ELE – College to provide hyperlink to appropriate pages
ELE – College to provide hyperlink to appropriate pages
| Credit value | 15 |
|---|---|
| Module ECTS | 7.5 |
| Module pre-requisites | None |
| Module co-requisites | None |
| NQF level (module) | 5 |
| Available as distance learning? | Yes |
| Origin date | 11/02/2021 |
| Last revision date | 24/02/2021 |
