Cognitive Neuroscience I (2025/2026: Semester 2 – Spring)

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Cursusdoel

After completing this course students are able to:
  1. explain the basic functions of the brain and the neurophysiological processes underlying various mental faculties,
  2. recall the basic terminology in neuroanatomy,
  3. indicate how neurocognitive research is conducted, particularly how behavioral and neurocognitive research methods are used as complementary means,
  4. recognize current issues in neurocognitive research, and design a simple experimental study.
Relationship between assessment and learning goals:

In this course, the final course grade is based on three elements: the written midterm exam, the written final exam and the experimental proposal assignment.
  1. Midterm exam. This reflects your ability to explain neuroanatomy and physiology, and the neural basis of perception (course goals 1 and 2) as well as important research methodologies in neurocognitive research (course goal 3).
  2. Final exam. This reflects your ability to explain the neural basis of higher level cognitive functions (course goals 1) as well as specific examples of how neurocognitive research is currently conducted (course goals 3 and 4).
  3. Experimental Proposal Assignment. This tests your ability to choose the proper scientific method to address a specific question (course goal 3), evaluate primary research papers, and formulate a research project proposal (course goal 4).

Vakinhoudelijk

The human mind is undoubtedly one of the most fascinating products of evolution. It has been studied from many different points of view -- physical, philosophical, computational, psychological, and also biological. Recently, it has become clear that collaboration between these approaches is needed to answer the ultimate question “how does the brain give rise to the mind?” This collaboration has resulted in a new field known as cognitive neuroscience.
Cognitive Neuroscience I is an introduction to this field, studying the physiology and anatomy of the brain, the functional anatomy of cognitive functions, and the experimental toolkit of cognitive neuroscience (ranging from reaction-time tests to functional MRI). The results of recent research into perception, attention, learning and memory, and language, and their neurological underpinnings are also looked at. Throughout the course, special attention is given to dysfunctions of cognitive functioning resulting from brain damage.

Format
The course is a topical introduction to the field of cognitive neuroscience. Mandatory study of the textbook and video lectures acquaint the students with the main concepts and insights, later supplemented by class advanced lecture elements, discussion, Q&A, quizzes, and homework problem sets. Practical work with computer models makes students familiar with functional brain anatomy and neural ciruits. Groups of four students design a proposal to study the underlying cognitive neuroscience of a phenomenon of their choice. In this proposal, they outline the aim, question, and design of the experiment, on the basis of examples studies taken from the literature

Werkvormen

UCU SCI 1 course

Toetsing

Midterm Exam

Verplicht | Weging 40% | ECTS 3

Final Exam

Verplicht | Weging 40% | ECTS 3

Experimental Proposal assignment

Verplicht | Weging 20% | ECTS 1,5

*midterm FEEDBACK*

Niet verplicht

Ingangseisen en voorkennis

Ingangseisen

Er is geen informatie over verplichte ingangseisen bekend.

Voorkennis

Knowledge of biology at high school level (Dutch VWO, IB-SL, or comparable) is recommended. Students who did not take biology in high school are advised to complete the course [UCSCIBIO01] That's Life: Biology Today.

Voertalen

  • Engels

Cursusmomenten

Gerelateerde studies

Tentamens

Er is geen tentamenrooster beschikbaar voor deze cursus

Verplicht materiaal

  • BOEK
    E.D. Kirby, M.J. Glenn, N.J. Sandstrom and C.L. Williams: Introduction to Behavioral Neuroscience. ISBN-13: 978-1-961584-57-0. This is a free and open book, to be obtained in electronic form from https://openstax.org/details/books/introduction-behavioral-neuroscience.

Aanbevolen materiaal

Er is geen informatie over de aanbevolen literatuur bekend

Opmerkingen

Cross-Listed with SSC (Psychology). Counts towards SCI or SSC major. Counts as SCI breadth requirement only, not SSC.

Coördinator

dr. G.J.L. Beckers G.J.L.Beckers@uu.nl

Docenten

S. van Bijnen s.vanbijnen@uu.nl
dr. G.J.L. Beckers G.J.L.Beckers@uu.nl

Inschrijving

Let op: deze cursus is niet toegankelijk voor studenten van andere faculteiten, bijvakkers mogen zich dus niet inschrijven.

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