SUBJECT

Title

Cognitive Neuroscience

Code

CCNM17-CN-101

Type of instruction

seminar

Level

Master

Faculty

Faculty of Education and Psychology

Part of degree program

Cognitive Science MSc

Computational and Cognitive Neuroscience MSc

Credits

Recommended in

Semester 3

Typically offered in

Autumn semester

Course description

The two main goals of the course are the demonstration of the methods of cognitive neuroscience, and the presentation of classical and current findings of cognitive and developmental neuroscience. The presentation of physical, biochemical and morphological bases, and historical accounts has the aim that students understand the choice of particular methods, and be able to assess the advantages and disadvantages of them. The presentation of methods is followed by an intensive review of the main findings of cognitive neuroscience both in the fields of cognition (perception, memory, consciousness, language, etc.) and emotion (face perception, prosody, etc.).

The unfolding of the interrelations of brain-cognition-behavior triad is completed by the review of the findings of developmental cognitive neuroscience. During the course, students are presented with new experimental paradigms coming from the interdisciplinary field of cognitive neuroscience, which may be useful both for theoretical work and clinical practice.

Learning outcome, competences
knowledge:

to ensure students can read articles, understand the methods and interpret results.

attitude:

is sensitive to and interested in noticing psychological phenomena and problems

skills:

to provide an overview of traditional and cutting-edge experimental techniques.

Content of the course
Topics of the course

History, Neurons, Networks, Basic Neuroanatomy
Brain Lobes
Neurons, Networks, Basic Neuro (cont.)
Methods 1-2: EEG/EcoG
Consciousness, Pathology (Coma), Altered States
MEG: MEG: Sensory and Motor Function and Integration
Epilepsy
Stimulation (TMS / DBS)

Learning activities, learning methods:
Lectures and interactive discussions

Evaluation of outcomes
Learning requirements, mode of evaluation, criteria of evaluation:
requirements

Attendance,
2 presentations
1 essay.

mode of evaluation: written exam

Readings

Gazzaniga, M. S. (Ed.). (2000). The New Cognitive Neurosciences, (2nd ed.). Cambridge, MA: MIT Press.
Gazzaniga, M. S., Ivry, R. B., & Mangun, G. R. (2008). Cognitive neuroscience, (3rd ed.). New York: W. W. Norton.
Nelson, C. A., & Luciana, M. (2001). Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience. Cambridge, MA: MIT Press.
Baars, B. J., & Gage, N. M. (2010). Cognition, Brain, and Consciousness: Introduction to Cognitive Neuroscience. London: Academic Press.