Entry requirements
Only open to MSc Psychology (research) students
Description
In this course, students will get an introduction into various neuroscientific methods (e.g. EEG, fMRI, TMS, Heart rate). Additionally, we will reflect critically on neuroscientific research in general: What kind of research questions are suitable for neuroscientific methods? What is the nature of the knowledge that we can, in principle get from this type of research? In the practical part of the course, we 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 assess literature in their own field. Students learn about and practice with the data acquisition of EEG, heart rate, peripheral methods. Students learn about and practice with the data analysis of EEG.
Timetable
For the timetable of this course please refer to MyTimetable
Registration
Education
Students must register themselves for all course components (lectures, tutorials and practicals) they wish to follow. You can register up to 5 days prior to the start of the course.
Exams
It is mandatory for all students to register for each exam and to confirm registration for each exam in My Studymap. This is possible up to and including 10 calendar days prior to the examination. You cannot take an exam without a valid pre-registration and confirmation in My Studymap. Carefully read all information about the procedures and deadlines for registering for courses and exams.
Exchange students and external guest students will be informed by the education administration about the current registration procedure.
Mode of instruction
8 2-hour lectures
4 2-hour practical assignments
For practical assignments, students are assigned to sub groups. Every student will follow two EEG 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
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:
Chatham, C H, Badre, D (2019) ‘How to Test Cognitive Theory with fMRI’ in New Methods in Cognitive Psychology, 1st Edition Imprint Routledge
Coltheart ‘What has functional neuroimaging told us about the mind (so far)?’(2005) European Cognitive Neuropsychology Workshop, Bressanone.
Gina M. Grimshaw & Michael C. Philipp (2021) Bodies in mind: using peripheral psychophysiology to probe emotional and social processes. Journal of the Royal Society of New Zealand
Gross, J (2019) Magnetoencephalography in Cognitive Neuroscience: A Primer, Neuron, Vol. 104, Issue 2, pp 189-204
Haynes, J.D. (2015) A Primer on Pattern-Based Approaches to fMRI: Principles, Pitfalls, and Perspectives, Neuron, Volume 87, Issue 2, Pages 257-270
Poldrack, R.A. (2012) The future of fMRI in Cognitive Neuroscience, NeuroImage 62 (2012) 1216–1220
Schurger, Sitt, and Dehaene, (2012) “An Accumulator Model for Spontaneous Neural Activity Prior to Self-Initiated Movement.”Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 109-42, E2904-E2913
Walsh, V, Cowey, MS (2000) Transcranial magnetic stimulation and cognitive neuroscience, Nature Reviews Neuroscience 1, 73-80
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. S. Uithol s.uithol@fsw.leidenuniv.nl