Behavioural and Cognitive Neuroscience

The course provides a thorough introduction to the biological foundation of behaviour and cognition. It focuses on the neural mechanisms for behaviour and cognition, with particular emphasis, but not limited to, on learning and memory, motivation, and emotions. The lectures will also address disorders, with emphasis on the underlying neural mechanisms, and introduce some tools by which we can study human brain function.

After completing the NEVR3003 course and passing the exam the student should be able to:

A. Knowledge

• has in-depth understanding of the basic concepts of the organization of higher order cortical systems.
• can describe the basic structural and functional concepts of the major interactions between subcortical and cortical systems.

B. Skills

• can describe certain cognitive behavioral processes in terms of contributions of and interactions between different brain systems.
• can design and evaluate an existing design in cognitive neuroscience research and implication for the results.

C. General competence

• Apply critical thinking and draw upon key concepts from the course to communicate a general understanding of how higher order cognitive functions are organized, acquired and maintained across lifespan and disrupted in diseases.

Lectures, team-based learning (TBL), and participation in group-based discussions. There will be some optional group-based activities such as journal clubs or presentations that will enhance students’ learning and students can choose to participate.

The course is taught in the Spring semester with a final examination at the end of the semester. The language of teaching and examination is English.

This course has restricted admission. Students admitted to the MSc in Neuroscience programme are guaranteed a place. Other students must apply for a place by the given deadlines.