Prospectus

nl en

Methods and instruments in cognitive and affective neuroscience

Course
2010-2011

NB Language of instruction 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 and developmental effects;

  • 2 student presentations, based on scientific paper;

  • demonstration;

  • practical part for students.

Course documents:

  • 2 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/ERP (Lenneke Alink)
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) (Dorothee Out)
Session 11.Cortisol, oxytocin (Rien van IJzendoorn)
Session 12.Behavioral Genetics (Marian Bakermans-Kranenburg)

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

  • paper: 80%

  • student presentation: 20%

Students will write a short essay, based on a predefined scientific article. Students are requested to A) critically evaluate weaknesses and strengths of the methods and techniques used in this particular study and B) propose which and how additional methods and techniques (as discussed in this course) may extend this study to provide more or new insights. The essay will be evaluated with regard to originality, argumentation, style and degree of in-depth discussion.

Blackboard

  • PDF copies of all 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.