Methods and instruments in cognitive and affective neuroscience

NB Language spoken in course 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;

• 2 student presentations (15 min. each), based on scientific paper;

• demonstration or illustration of methods/techniques;

Course documents:

• 4 scientific articles per session

• PDF copies of all PowerPoint presentations will be made available through Blackboard

Sessions:

1. Introduction (Sophie van Rijn)
   2. Heart rate and skin conductance (Sophie van Rijn)
   3. MRI (Sophie van Rijn)
   4. Perception and attention (Hanna Swaab)
   5. Genetics (Marian Bakermans)
   6. Learning and understanding language (Paul van den Broek)
   7. Eyetracking and other process measures (Paul van den Broek)
   8. EEG/ERP (Renske Huffmeijer)
   9. Executive functioning & memory ( Hanna Swaab)
   10. Autonomic Nervous System (cortisol) (Dorothee Out)

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

• essay: 80%

• student presentation: 20%

Students will write a short essay (max. 2000 words excluding references), based on a predefined theme. The essay should have the format of an NWO Veni research proposal in which they propose which and how methods and techniques, as discussed in this course, may help in gaining more or new insights. The essay will be evaluated with regard to originality, argumentation, knowledge of methods and techniques, translating research questions to methodological approaches, scientific style and degree of in-depth discussion.

Both the essay and the paper are evaluated on a 10 point scale. To successfully complete the course, students are required to pass for both the essay and the paper separately. Students have a re-exam option for the essay, with a deadline of 4 weeks after the submission date of the first exam.

Blackboard

• PDF copies of 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.