Entry requirements
Only open to MSc Psychology (research) students
Description
In this course, students will get an introduction into various psychophysiological and brain-imaging techniques (EEG, ERP, Heart rate, fMRI), and other biological techniques subserving psychology (behavioural genetics, psychopharmacology). In the practical part of the course, they will acquire hands-on experience in collecting and analysing EEG/ERP data.This course provides the students with basic theoretical and practical neuroscientific skills as required for a research career.
Course objectives
Students acquire enough knowledge of the properties, possibilities, strengths and limitations of the most commonly used neuroscientific research methods to understand and appreciate literature in their own field that applies these methods. Students learn about and practice with the data acquisition of EEG, heart rate, and eye tracking techniques. Students learn about and practice with the data analysis of EEG.
Timetable
For the timetables of your lectures, work groups and exams, please select your study programme in:
Psychology timetables
Registration
Course
Students need to enroll for lectures and work group sessions.
Master’s course registration
Examination
Students are not automatically enrolled for an examination. They can register via uSis from 100 to 10 calendar days before the date. Students who are not registered will not be permitted to take the examination.
Registering for exams
Mode of instruction
8 2-hour lectures
4 2-hour practical assignments
2 1-hour practical assignments
For practical assignments, students are assigned to sub groups. Every student will only follow 1 heart rate training, 1 eye tracking training, 2 EEG/ERP data acquisition trainings and 2 EEG/ERP data analysis trainings. For the practical meetings, participation is mandatory.
Assessment method
The assessment is based on a written exam (40% multiple choice, 40% open questions) based on the mandatory literature and lecture slides, and a group assignment (poster presentation, 20%) about what neuroscientific research methods have to offer for the student’s field of specialisation.
The Institute of Psychology follows the policy of the Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences to systematically check student papers for plagiarism with the help of software. Disciplinary measures will be taken when fraud is detected. Students are expected to be familiar with and understand the implications of this fraud policy.
Reading list
Band, G.P.H. (2013). Syllabus for the master course Experimentation 2: Neuroscientific research methods. Will be available through Blackboard. Powerpoint slides for the course.
Examples of other mandatory literature:
Amaro, E. Jr. & Barker, G.J. (2006). Study design in fMRI: Basic principles. Brain and Cognition, 60 , 220-232.
Fox, M D, Snyder, A Z, Vincent, J L, et al. (2005). The human brain is intrinsically organized into dynamic, anticorrelated functional networks. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 102(27), 9673-9678. Goldberg, T.E. & Weinberger, D.R. (2004). Genes and the parsing of cognitive processes. Trends in Cognitive Sciences, 8, 325-335.
Hannula, D.E., Althoff, R.R., Warren, D.E., Riggs, L., Cohen, N.J., & Ryan, J.D. (2010). Worth a glance: using eye movements to investigate the cognitive neuroscience of memory. Frontiers in human neuroscience, 4, 166, 1-16.
Kadosh, R C. (2013). Using transcranial electrical stimulation to enhance cognitive functions in the typical and atypical brain. Translational Neuroscience, 4(1), 20-33.
Lieberman, M D. (2007). Social cognitive neuroscience: A review of core processes. Annual Review of Psychology, 58, 259-289.
Lennox , B.R. (2009). The clinical experience and potential of brain imaging in patients with mental illness. Frontiers in human neuroscience, 3, 46, 1-3.
Poldrack, R A. (2012). The future of fmri in cognitive neuroscience. NeuroImage, 62(2), 1216-20.
Woodman, G.F. (2010). A brief introduction to the use of event-related potentials in studies of perception and attention. Attention, perception, & psychophysics, 72, 2031-2046.
Contact information
Dr. Franziska Richter
f.r.richter@fsw.leidenuniv.nl