Studiegids

nl en

Methods and instruments in cognitive and affective neuroscience

Vak
2012-2013

NB Language spoken in course is Dutch unless English-speaking students participate

Admission requirements

N.a.

Description

Session structure:

  • short overview of available methods & instruments, strengths & weaknesses, applications in research & clinic;

  • 2 student presentations (15 min. each), based on scientific paper;

  • demonstration;

Course documents:

  • 4 scientific articles per session

  • PDF copies of all PowerPoint presentations will be made available through Blackboard

Session 1. Introduction (Sophie van Rijn)
(general practical research skills, ethics, test validity, using norm scores, international compatibility, developmental effects, test application in research versus clinic, Eprime, overview course)

Part A. Neurocognition

Session 2. Intelligence (Hanna Swaab)
Session 3. Perception and attention (Hanna Swaab)
Session 4. Executive functioning & memory (Hanna Swaab)
Session 5. Learning and understanding language (Paul van den Broek)
Session 6. Social cognition and emotion (Sophie van Rijn)

Part B. Neuro-imaging, psychophysiology and behavioral genetics

Session 7. EEG (to be announced)
Session 8. MRI (Sophie van Rijn)
Session 9. Eyetracking and other process measures (Paul van den Broek)
Session 10.Autonomic Nervous System (skin conduct, hart rate, cortisol) (to be announced)
Session 11.ERP (to be announced)
Session 12.Behavioral and Molecular Genetics (to be announced)

Course objectives

  • To learn about methods and instruments to examine neurocognition, behavioral genetics, psychophysiology, and brain structure and function;

  • Oral presentation in English;

  • Scientific writing in English.

Achievement levels: 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 10, 11, 12, 13, 15, 17, 18.

Timetable

Timetable

Mode of instruction:

Lectures and seminars.

Assessment method

  • essay: 80%

  • student presentation: 20%

Students will write a short essay (max. 2000 words excl. references), based on a predefined scientific article. The essay should have the format of a research proposal in which they propose which and how additional methods and techniques (as discussed in this course) may extend the provided scientific article to gain more or new insights. The essay will be evaluated with regard to originality, argumentation, style and degree of in-depth discussion.

Both the essay and the paper are evaluated on a 10 point scale. To successfully complete the course, students are required to pass for both the essay and the paper separately.

Blackboard

  • PDF copies of PowerPoint presentations will be made available through Blackboard

  • detailed course information will be communicated by Blackboard.

Reading list

Part of course documents, available on Blackboard.

Registration

Please note that separate uSis registration is mandatory for lectures, seminars, exam and re-exam.

  • Registration for the lectures of the course is possible as of two months through one week before the first lecture at the latest;

  • Registration for the seminars of the course is possible as of two months through one week before the first lecture at the latest;

  • Registration for the exam is possible as of two months through one week before the exam at the latest;

  • Registration for the re-exam is possible as of two months through one week before the re-exam at the latest.

Students who don’t register cannot attend classes or take the (re)exam.

Contact information

Co-ordinator: dr. S. van Rijn.
Hours: one hour after classes.