Seminars in Neuroscience
| Module title | Seminars in Neuroscience |
|---|---|
| Module code | NEUM002 |
| Academic year | 2023/4 |
| Credits | 15 |
| Module staff | Dr Bex Smith (Lecturer) Dr Sam Hughes (Convenor) |
| Duration: Term | 1 | 2 | 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Duration: Weeks | 0 | 11 | 0 |
| Number students taking module (anticipated) | 20 |
|---|
Module description
This module will equip you with the essential methods and skills needed for your development as a neuroscientist. You will learn about the scientific method, from the history and philosophy of neuroscience to the contemporary research landscape. You will receive training in different neuroscience techniques along with aspects of experimental design, hypothesis testing, data analysis, coding, and presentation skills. These skills will be taught through a series of seminars and workshops from expert researchers. In addition, you will master key science communication skills such as how to find and read scientific research literature, scientific writing, and presentation skills. This module will have a strong emphasis throughout on ethics, research integrity and reproducibility in science.
Module aims - intentions of the module
This module aims to provide you with the essential knowledge and skills needed to perform cutting-edge neuroscience research with ‘real world’ applications and to support you with your individual research project. This includes practical skills in carrying out experimental techniques, organising and analysing data, presenting it effectively, and performing relevant and rigorous statistical testing. These skills will be assessed at the end of the module with a presentation focusing on one of the neuroscience techniques covered in the module.
Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)
ILO: Module-specific skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 1. Understand and evaluate various techniques used in neuroscience and their applications.
- 2. Gain insight and know-how of the statistical analysis of neuroscience data
- 3. Compare and contrast neuroscience methods identifying their strengths and weaknesses
ILO: Discipline-specific skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 4. Use and understand statistical methods to analyse and interpret neuroscience research data.
- 5. Synthesize, and critically evaluate, primary sources of information.
- 6. Analyse and display different types of data effectively
- 7. Demonstrate knowledge of how to design a good experiment, with a focus on ethics, integrity, and reproducibility.
ILO: Personal and key skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 8. Exemplify critical thinking in the construction and analysis of verbal/written arguments
- 9. Communicate information orally and with audio-visual aids
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 several introductory lectures in week 1-3 first to outline the aims and structure of the module and introduce the assessment. The subsequent lectures will include principles of experimental design and ethical issues in neuroscience research. Module content will be delivered in term two and be taught in two-week blocks.
Expert-led seminars in neuroscience techniques
Over a series of two-week blocks, you will develop in-depth knowledge of five cutting-edge neuroscience techniques through a combination of online and in-person expert-led seminars focussing on current research using key techniques in neuroscience, this will be followed in the subsequent week by a workshop/ practical session aimed to develop essential skills to equip neuroscience researchers of the future and develop a critical appreciation of the potential and limitations of current neuroscience research and analysis techniques.
Content will vary depending on academic availability but is likely to include from the following:
- Rodent behavioural analysis: Morris water maze
- Zebrafish models: How stress hormones shape animal behaviour
- Cell models: The utility of iPSCs models in ALS
- Electrophysiology: Whole cell patch clamp recording
- Molecular Neuroscience: Omic profiling of distinct neural cells
- Neuroanatomy: Brain dissection demonstration/ histology
- Computational modelling: Ion channel-mediated hormone release in the pituitary
Data analysis and statistics
In addition, there will be several statistics/ coding workshops. These will recap statistical concepts and work through practical examples of using statistics and coding for reproducible research.
Learning activities and teaching methods (given in hours of study time)
| Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities | Guided independent study | Placement / study abroad |
|---|---|---|
| 27 | 123 | 0 |
Details of learning activities and teaching methods
| Category | Hours of study time | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Scheduled Learning and Teaching | 8 | 8 x 1-hour Lectures/ Seminars |
| Scheduled Learning and Teaching | 10 | 5 x 2-hour workshops/Practical sessions |
| Scheduled Learning and Teaching | 9 | 3 x 2-hour statistics/coding workshops |
| Guided Independent Study | 73 | Reading and preparation for practical sessions, seminars, and workshops |
| Guided Independent Study | 50 | Reading and preparation for lectures and assessment |
Formative assessment
| Form of assessment | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
|---|---|---|---|
| Online multiple-choice quizzes | 5-10 MCQs per practical or workshop | 1-6 | Written Online |
| Seminar/Workshop participation | Reflecting contribution across all the workshops and assessed using programme-wide contribution criteria. | 1-9 | Written or verbal (on request) |
| Presentation plan | 250 words/ concept map | 1-4,7-8 | Written or verbal |
Summative assessment (% of credit)
| Coursework | Written exams | Practical exams |
|---|---|---|
| 100 | 0 | 0 |
Details of summative assessment
| Form of assessment | % of credit | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oral presentation on the promises and pitfalls of a selected neuroscience technique | 90 | 15 minutes | 1-4,7-9 | Written |
| Peer marking of Oral presentation on the promises and pitfalls of a selected neuroscience technique | 5 | 1-4,7-9 | Written | |
| Seminar/Workshop participation | 5 | Reflecting contribution across all the seminars, and workshops assessed using programme-wide contribution criteria. | 1-9 | Written or verbal (on request) |
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 presentation on the promises and pitfalls of a selected neuroscience technique (90%) | Recorded presentation (15 minutes) (95%) | 1-4,7-9 | Ref/def period |
| Peer marking of Oral presentation on the promises and pitfalls of a selected neuroscience technique (5%) | N/A (addressed by Recorded presentation above) | N/A (addressed by Recorded presentation above) | N/A (addressed by Recorded presentation above) |
| Seminar/Workshop participation (5%) | 300-word lay abstract for each session missed (5%) | 1-9 | Ref/def period |
Re-assessment notes
If you miss 4 or more seminars/workshops, you must provide mitigation for your absence to obtain a deferral of the seminar participation component. In the case of deferral of the seminar contribution assessment, students will be required to write a 300-word lay abstract for each session missed.
Students with Individual Learning Plans referencing difficulties in group participation will be offered the option to submit a pre-recorded presentation in lieu of a live presentation. Similarly, students with Individual Learning Plans with difficulties in group participation will be offered the option to do the re-assessment in lieu of a seminar contribution score (i.e., written abstracts). These individuals will be contacted at the start of the module and asked to choose between these two options.
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
“Statistics for dummies” – Rumsey, ISBN 9781119293521
“Statistics II for dummies” – Rumsey, ISBN 9780470543863
“Critical thinking skills: effective analysis, argument and reflection” – Cottrell, ISBN 9781137550521
“Focus on neuroscience methods. Nat Neurosci 23, 1455 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41593-020-00750-z”
| Credit value | 15 |
|---|---|
| Module ECTS | 7.5 |
| Module pre-requisites | None |
| Module co-requisites | None |
| NQF level (module) | 7 |
| Available as distance learning? | No |
| Origin date | 19/02/2023 |
| Last revision date | 08/06/2023 |
