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PSYC41630: Current Issues in Cognitive Neuroscience

It is possible that changes to modules or programmes might need to be made during the academic year, in response to the impact of Covid-19 and/or any further changes in public health advice.

Type Tied
Level 4
Credits 30
Availability Available in 2023/24
Module Cap None.
Location Durham
Department Psychology

Prerequisites

  • None

Corequisites

  • None

Excluded Combinations 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 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 and poster presentation). 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

ActivityNumberFrequencyDurationTotalMonitored
Lectures11 per term1 hour2Yes
Seminars83 in term 1, 5 in term 22 hours16Yes
Practicals83 in term 1, 5 in term 22 hours16Yes
Workshops31 in term 1, 2 in term 22 hours6Yes
Preparation & Reading260 
Total300 

Summative Assessment

Component: PresentationComponent Weighting: 25%
ElementLength / DurationElement WeightingResit Opportunity
Poster100 
Component: Written ExaminationComponent Weighting: 75%
ElementLength / DurationElement WeightingResit Opportunity
Examination2 hour100 

Formative Assessment

2000 words essay.

More information

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