Module PSYC40230: Methods in Cognitive Neuroscience

Department: Psychology

PSYC40230: Methods in Cognitive Neuroscience

Prerequisites

• none

Corequisites

• none

Excluded Combination of Modules

• none

Aims

• To provide students with advanced knowledge of a range of techniques used in cognitive neuroscience research
• To provide students with advanced in-depth and hands-on knowledge of a small number of research techniques used in cognitive neuroscience
• To outline the strengths, weaknesses and appropriateness of a variety of cognitive neuroscience techniques, specifically with relevance to current research questions as outlined in the module "current issues in cognitive neuroscience".

Content

• The module uses workshops to develop an understanding of the background behind methodologies currently used in cognitive neuroscience to answer current critical questions in the area
• The workshops cover both theoretical background to the methodologies and the constraints of experimental design unique to each technique.
• In addition there are specific workshops on computer programming equipment that is specific to research carried out in cognitive neuroscience.
• Techniques to be covered may include animal behaviour, transcranial magnetic stimulation, psychophysiology and functional magnetic resonance imaging, amongst others.
• Following the workshops, students will choose from a variety of five-week long projects
• Projects will cover the range of cognitive neuroscience techniques that are available in Durham and allow the students to gain hands-on experience with these techniques
• Projects will be focused on gaining skills in using the techniques rather than collecting data about a particular empirical question.
• Projects will have to be chosen from laboratories outside those in which a project will be undertaken in order to ensure exposure to a wide variety of techniques.

Learning Outcomes

• Aquisition of knowledge about the backgrounds to cognitive neuroscience methodologies
• Aquisition of knowledge about the particular constraints, limitations and benefits of a variety of cognitive neuroscience techniques.
• In depth knowledge about particular cognitive neuroscience methodologies
• Understanding of the appropriateness of particular methodologies for answering particular empirical questions

• Be able to design and write a computer program with a specific experimental aim

• Development of written communication skills
• Developing the ability to learn independently within broad guidelines

Modes of Teaching, Learning and Assessment and how these contribute to the learning outcomes of the module

• Workshops will introduce students to a variety of techniques in cognitive neuroscience including computer programming.
• As far as practically possible, workshops will allow students to gain practical experience with the techniques and to learn about the strengths and limitations of the techniques as well as practicalities of experimental design unique to each method.
• Where practical experience is not possible within a workshop, efforts will be made to provide alternative interactive experiences with the techniques, such as video demonstrations or analysis of existing data sets
• Workshops will also allow for student-led discussion and small group teaching which will support the development of practical skills and knowledge about the background to these methodologies
• Workshops will therefore allow students to develop their oral communication skills and their abiltiy to learn independently.
• Students' knowledge of the methodologies, their background and their limitations and strengths will be assessed through a formative essay on one of the methodologies.
• The formative essay will assess students' written communication skills
• Students will be given a choice between a variety of lab projects within research groups that exist within the Department of Psychology. They will choose one technique to study in-depth.
• This lab project will not be taken within the research group the student joins for their dissertation module.
• The lab project will last five weeks and be under the guidance of an experienced researcher.
• Over the course of the lab project they will learn to correctly and appropriately use particular equipment and techniques.
• Students' ability to design and write a computer program for a specific experimental aim will be summatively assessed by the completion and submission of such a program.
• The lab project and computer programming project will assess students' ability to learn independently, whilst the summative written reports will also assess students' written communication skills
• Students' understanding of the appropriateness of particular methodologies for particular empirical questions will be summatively assessed in a written examination.

Teaching Methods and Learning Hours

Summative Assessment

Formative Assessment:

2000 word essay on how to use a technique described in the methods workshop based teaching element of the module.

■ Attendance at all activities marked with this symbol will be monitored. Students who fail to attend these activities, or to complete the summative or formative assessment specified above, will be subject to the procedures defined in the University's General Regulation V, and may be required to leave the University