Cognitive Neuroscience
| Module title | Cognitive Neuroscience |
|---|---|
| Module code | CSC4025 |
| Academic year | 2019/0 |
| Credits | 15 |
| Module staff | Dr Crawford Winlove (Lecturer) |
| Duration: Term | 1 | 2 | 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Duration: Weeks | 11 |
| Number students taking module (anticipated) | 20 |
|---|
Module description
Sensations, emotions and thoughts are prominent features of our mental life. Cognitive Neuroscience seeks to explain these phenomena by integrating observations made at a cellular level within overarching theoretical frameworks. At its best, Cognitive Neuroscience provides these insights by subjecting specific theoretical predictions to the challenge of falsification through the precise measurement of hypothesized mechanisms. Success in this endeavour demands a secure philosophical foundation, conceptual precision, correct methodological design and accurate measurement. Common techniques include functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), electroencephalography (EEG) and transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS). This module explores influential attempts to follow such an approach, and invites participants to make they own evaluations.
We approach the topic though weekly lectures and facilitated journal club sessions. These are accompanied by a series of masterclasses that consider functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) in detail, and laboratory sessions which provide a hands-on introduction to electroencephalography (EEG) and transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS). It is assessed through an examination and written coursework.
This is an optional module for students studying BSc Neuroscience. This module is also open to students from Medical Sciences who have completed Foundations in Neuroscience, or similar material.
Module aims - intentions of the module
The module provides a general introduction to Cognitive Neuroscience. Students will explore the historical origins of Cognitive Neuroscience and its contemporary philosophical concerns. Students will consider the diversity of mental phenomena currently under investigation, and develop a detailed understanding of the roles played by mental states in the integration of visual perception and motor action. Finally, students will have hands-on opportunities to use some key experimental techniques.
Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)
ILO: Module-specific skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 1. Outline the historical development of Cognitive Neuroscience.
- 2. Define representation; explain how this accommodates a computational theory of mind and juxtaposes enactive models.
- 3. Discuss connectionism and its compatibility with cellular neuroscience.
- 4. Summarise the range of topics encompassed by Cognitive Neuroscience.
- 5. Critique some of the current priorities for research in Cognitive Neuroscience.
- 6. Delineate the key cellular processes and pathways that mediate the passage of visual information through the human nervous system.
- 7. Interpret the role of different cortical areas in the representation and analysis of visual information.
- 8. Explore contemporary explanations for visual recognition.
- 9. Explain, with appropriate examples, the selective allocation of visual attention.
- 10. Appraise the interpretation of neglect as a failure of attentional processes.
- 11. Illustrate the role of the frontal lobes in the control of motor action.
- 12. Evaluate the role of mirror neurons in action and imitation.
- 13. Examine the promises and perils of functional neuroimaging.
- 14. Critique the use of electroencephalography as a form of electrophysiological measurement.
- 15. Judge the utility of Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation as a research technique.
ILO: Discipline-specific skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 16. Demonstrate a clear understanding of the principles underpinning experimental design and data presentation within Cognitive Neuroscience.
- 17. Evaluate the specific challenges facing data collection within Cognitive Neuroscience.
ILO: Personal and key skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 18. Synthesize, and critically evaluate, primary sources of information.
- 19. Exemplify critical thinking in the construction and analysis of written arguments.
- 20. Produce clear scientific writing.
Syllabus plan
The module’s precise content will vary from year to year, but the following information gives an detailed description of the typical overall structure.
The module begins with an introductory workshop to outline its broad aims, weekly structure, and assessment processes.
For each of the following ten weeks there will be a one-hour lecture. Aligned with this you will have a one-hour journal club session, in which the discussion of a related research paper will be facilitated by a specialist academic.
The final week of the module has a consolidation workshop, in which students can chose which topic areas they would like to re-visit.
The module is assessed through coursework and an examination. For the coursework, you will write a 2500 word evaluation of a research article. This will require a critical evaluation of the associated methods and proposed interpretation, not a general description of the topic. The examination will include short-answer questions that explore the content of the entire module.
Lectures
- A History Cognitive Neuroscience
- The Philosophy of Cognitive Neuroscience: Representation and Computation
- The Philosophy of Cognitive Neuroscience: Connectionism and Enaction
- The Topics of Cognitive Neuroscience: an overview
- Visual systems: From cellular mechanisms to cortical representations
- Visual systems: Recognition
- Spatial systems: Attention for visual objects
- Spatial systems: Neglect as a failure of attention
- Motor systems: The role of frontal lobes
- Motor systems: Action, Awareness and Imitation
Masterclasses
- An fMRI study
- A multitude of fMRI studies
- The interpretation of fMRI data
Laboratory sessions
Practical 1: Electroencephalography (EEG) – The Event-Related Potential and facial recognition.
Practical 2: Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) – The motor-evoked potential.
Learning activities and teaching methods (given in hours of study time)
| Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities | Guided independent study | Placement / study abroad |
|---|---|---|
| 31 | 119 | 0 |
Details of learning activities and teaching methods
| Category | Hours of study time | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Scheduled Learning & Teaching | 12 | Lectures and workshops |
| Scheduled Learning & Teaching | 10 | Interactive Journal Club Sessions |
| Scheduled Learning & Teaching | 3 | Masterclasses |
| Scheduled Learning & Teaching | 6 | Laboratory classes |
| Guided Independent Study | 29 | Literature searches, reading and preparation for journal club sessions |
| Guided Independent Study | 30 | Preparation for assessed paper critique |
| Guided Independent Study | 60 | Reading and preparation for lectures and exam |
Formative assessment
| Form of assessment | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
|---|---|---|---|
| Participation in Journal Club Sessions | n/a | 1-15, 16-19 | Verbal |
| Online practice SAQ and data interpretation questions | 5 questions | 1-15 | Online model answers |
Summative assessment (% of credit)
| Coursework | Written exams | Practical exams |
|---|---|---|
| 50 | 50 | 0 |
Details of summative assessment
| Form of assessment | % of credit | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Short answer question and data interpretation exam | 50 | 2 hours | 1-15, 16-19 | Written or verbal (on request) |
| Critique of a research paper | 50 | 2500 words | 1-20 | 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Short answer question and data interpretation exam (50%) | Short answer question and data interpretation exam (2 hours) | 1-15, 16-19 | Ref/def period |
| Critique of a research paper (50%) | Critique of a research paper (2500 words) | 1-20 | Ref/def period |
Indicative learning resources - Basic reading
The Philosophy of Cognitive Science (2016, ISBN 0745646573): Chapters 1 and 2
The Student’s Guide to Cognitive Neuroscience (2nd Edition, 2010, ISBN 1848722729): Chapters 6, 7, 8
Neuroscience (6th Edition, 2018, ISBN 9781605353807) Chapters 27-29; 32)
| Credit value | 15 |
|---|---|
| Module ECTS | 7.5 |
| Module pre-requisites | The following modules are recommended: Foundations in Neuroscience; Neuropharmacology; Neuronal Networks. However, students may have covered similar materiel elsewhere. Students who have not studied the preliminary content should be able to successfully complete this module by undertaking some additional study, but should discuss this further with their Academic Tutor and the Module Convener. |
| NQF level (module) | 6 |
| Available as distance learning? | No |
| Origin date | 01/02/18 |
| Last revision date | 25/05/18 |
