Postgraduate Programme and Module Handbook 2024-2025
Module PSYC41630: Current Issues in Cognitive Neuroscience
Department: Psychology
PSYC41630: Current Issues in Cognitive Neuroscience
| Type | Tied | Level | 4 | Credits | 30 | Availability | Available in 2024/2025 | Module Cap | None. |
|---|
| Tied to | C8K109 |
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Prerequisites
- None
Corequisites
- None
Excluded Combination of Modules
- None
Aims
- This module aims to provide students with advanced in-depth knowledge of current theoretical and practical issues in the field of Cognitive Neuroscience
Content
- The module uses seminars, practicals and workshops to examine current research in a range of areas within the field of cognitive neuroscience. Topics may include vision, audition, memory, attention, emotion, volition, social cognition, neuroplasticity and mathematical modelling amongst others. Topics may also include applications and content relevant for clinical practice. Students will be supported to carry out in-depth reviews of selected research papers and place them in the context of modern theory
Learning Outcomes
Subject-specific Knowledge:
- Detailed understanding of specific research questions in the field of cognitive neuroscience
- Acquisition of knowledge about history, background, development and applications of research within the field of cognitive neuroscience
- Understanding relevance of 'classic' experiments in modern research
Subject-specific Skills:
- Developing the ability to critically examine research in cognitive neuroscience
- Developing the ability to present advanced topics
Key Skills:
- Good written communication skills
- Good oral 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
- This module is taught by way of weekly double seminars and practicals in Michaelmas and Epiphany term which will support in-depth learning about specific research questions in the field of cognitive neuroscience. Seminars and practicals will involve both small group teaching and student-led discussion, which will assist students to learn independently and develop their oral communication skills. The formative essay on material arising from the seminars will assess students' written communication skills as well as their in-depth knowledge of these research issues.
- Workshops in Michaelmas and Epiphany term will support the students' learning of classic studies in cognitive neuroscience and will support students' communication skills (oral poster presentation). Peer-feedback is used to enhance the learning experience. Students' understanding of reseach will be summatively assessed through a poster.
- The written exam will also assess students' written communication skills and their ability to learn independently.
Teaching Methods and Learning Hours
| Activity | Number | Frequency | Duration | Total/Hours | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lectures | 1 | 1 in term 1 | 1 hour | 1 | ■ |
| Seminars | 8 | 3 in term 1, 5 in term 2 | 2 hours | 16 | ■ |
| Practicals | 8 | 3 in term 1, 5 in term 2 | 2 hours | 16 | ■ |
| Workshops | 4 | 1 in term 1, 2 in term 2 | 2 hours | 8 | ■ |
| Preparation & Reading | 259 | ||||
| Total | 300 |
Summative Assessment
| Component: Presentation | Component Weighting: 25% | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Element | Length / duration | Element Weighting | Resit Opportunity |
| Poster | 100% | ||
| Component: Written Examination | Component Weighting: 75% | ||
| Element | Length / duration | Element Weighting | Resit Opportunity |
| Examination | 2 hour | 100% | |
Formative Assessment:
1000 words essay.
■ 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