Entry requirements
All 60 ec of the first-year in Psychology obtained.
Description
Cognitive neuroscience (CNS) is a multidisciplinary field that investigates traditional cognitive topics such as perception, action and memory as well as topics such as social cognition, anxiety and empathy. CNS aims to gain insight into cognitive processes in the human brain. The CNS course builds on the Cognitive Psychology courses. The objectives of this course are two-fold: on the one hand, students learn about the theories and methods of research of cognitive psychology, neuropsychology, and neuroscience. On the other hand, the course covers theoretical controversies and the limitations in current knowledge, and discusses possible directions for future development. This course is of interest to anyone who wishes to learn more about the relationship between mental processes and neural mechanisms. The course forms an excellent basis for students who wish to follow the Research Master’s programme in Psychology.
This course or the Minor Brain and Cognition is required for admission to the Cognitive Neuroscience track of the Research Master’s programme.
Course objectives
Students will acquire:
Students can demonstrate detailed knowledge of the anatomy of the human brain;
Students can relate theories and methods of research in the field of cognitive neuroscience;
Students can assess theoretical insights and empirical data from recent papers on cognitive neuroscience through oral and written communication.
Timetable
For the timetable of this course please refer to MyTimetable
This course is offered twice a year. Students follow the course in one block (Block 2 or 4)
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
You must register for each exam in My Studymap at least 10 days before the exam date. Don’t forget! For more information, see the enrolment procedure.
You cannot take an exam without a valid registration in My Studymap.
Carefully read all information about the procedures and deadlines for registering for courses and exams.
Students who take this course as part of a LDE minor or a premaster programme, exchange students and external guest students will be informed by the education administration about the current registration procedure.
Mode of instruction
7 2-hour lectures in English and 7 2-hour work group sessions in English or Dutch.
Attendance at the work group sessions is mandatory. See Brightspace for more information.
Alongside the 7 lectures on the textbook, the compulsory work group sessions use recent articles to cover specific topics in greater depth. The work group sessions also include a visit to the LUMC anatomical museum, which has a special display case with brain preparations for the study of brain anatomy.
Assessment method
The final mark for the course is based on the unweighted average (i.e. 50:50) of the following 2 units of assessment:
The examination (in English), which consists of multiple-choice questions and essay questions and covers the compulsory reading list materials. The essay questions may be answered in Dutch or in English.
A workgroup grade, which consists of the combined grade for the workgroup assignments. Students give an individual oral presentation on a particular topic in the field of cognitive neuroscience. They also write a paper and provide review on papers written by their peers. To pass the workgroup, the student should meet the attendance and peer feedback criteria.
Please note that the minimal grade for the presentation, paper and exam is a 5.5. The workgroup and Exam are registered as separate grades in uSis
This course is offered twice a year. Students follow the course in one block (Block 2 or 4). The exam opportunities for the course take place after the blocks in which the course is offered: i.e. after Block 2, after Block 4. There is a third exam opportunity in the Summer resit period.
Study material for the exam
The exam will cover selected chapters from the study book. Additional material covered in the lectures will not be part of the exam.
The Institute of Psychology uses fixed rules for grade calculation. It also follows the policy of the Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences to systematically check student papers for plagiarism with the help of software. All students are required to take and pass the Scientific Integrity Test with a score of 100% in order to learn about the practice of integrity in scientific writing. Students are given access to the quiz via a module on Brightspace. Disciplinary measures will be taken when fraud is detected. Students are expected to be familiar with and understand the implications of these two policies.
Reading list
Gazzaniga, M.S., Ivry, R.B. & Mangun, G.R. (2019). Cognitive Neuroscience: The Biology of the Mind (5th edition). New York: Norton & Company. ISBN 9780393667813
Contact information
Dr. Eline Dekeyster e.a.g.dekeyster@fsw.leidenuniv.nl
Dr. Steven Miletić s.miletic@fsw.leidenuniv.nl