Entry requirements
Only open to students that are admitted to the Minor Brain and Cognition.
Description
In this course, students will be introduced to specialised topics in cognitive neuroscience, such as perception, attention, decision making, action, and cognitive control. Different topics will be discussed with respect to their cognitive and neural mechanisms, the different research methods that are used to investigate them (e.g., behaviour, neuroimaging, modelling), and the different cognitive agents in which they are studied (e.g., humans, non-human animals, AI etc.). As such, each lecture will aim to provide insight into the theoretical and methodological perspectives of unique topics involving cognitive processes.
Course objectives
Upon completion of this course, the student:
Has acquired in-depth knowledge of several aspects of cognition in humans, such as perception, attention, decision making, action and cognitive control
Can explain aspects of cognition in non-human agents (e.g., non-human animals or an AI)
Gained insight into how research can help understand cognition in humans and non-human agents
Can apply this knowledge to critical reading of primary literature and to form, express and explain opinions on selected topics, as demonstrated by means of writing a popular scientific blog
Timetable
For the timetables of your lectures and exams, select your study programme. Always keep an eye on Brightspace and check with your course coordinator for potential changes. Psychology timetables
Assessment
Blog: Each student will write and hand in an individual scientific blog about a topic related to the course. Additional requirements will be announced during the course.
Exam: The exam will consist of a combination of multiple choice and open questions.
The final grade will be a weighted average score of the blog (30%) and the exam (70%). Each assessment needs to be scored 5.0 or higher, and the overall, averaged grade should be 5.5 or higher to pass this course. In other words, it is possible to compensate for an insufficient grade as long it is a 5.0 or higher and the overall, averaged grade is a 5.5 or higher.
Reading list
Ward, J. The Student’s Guide to Cognitive Neuroscience 3rd Edition (selected chapters as announced on Brightspace)
Additional research papers & chapters: announced on Brightspace
Contact information
For your questions about the overall minor organisation, please contact the coordinator of the minor in Brain and Cognition.
For your questions about registration, please contact the OSC.
For questions about the content of the course, please contact the coordinator, Fleur Bouwer.