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PSY-20023 - Module Specification
School of Psychology
Faculty of Natural Sciences

For academic year: 2022/23 Last Updated: 19 January 2023

PSY-20023 - Cognitive Neuroscience
Coordinator: Emma Smillie
Lecture Time: See Timetable...
Level: Level 5
Credits: 15
Study Hours: 150
School Office: 01782 733736

Programme/Approved Electives for 2022/23

None

Available as a Free Standing Elective

No

Co-requisites

None

Prerequisites

None

Barred Combinations

None

Description for 2022/23

It is not an exaggeration to say that one of the biggest unanswered questions in science is how our complex human cognition arises from the biological constraints of the brain. As Alan Newell once famously asked, "How can the human mind occur in the physical universe?". This module will present the cognitive neuroscientists' unique approach to addressing this question, by presenting the various methods at their disposal (functional magnetic resonance imaging, electrophysiology, transcranial magnetic stimulation, neural network modelling, and single-cell recording). Students will thus be given an insight into "...how the gears clank and how the pistons go..." (Newell) during human cognition.

Aims
Building upon their first year cognitive psychology modules, this module aims to provide students with a detailed introduction to the field of cognitive neuroscience, introducing its methods and how it is in a unique position to answer theoretical questions as to how human cognition is instantiated in the brain. The module will provide students with the ability to critically evaluate the advantages and disadvantages of an array of cognitive neuroscience methods.

Talis Aspire Reading List
Any reading lists will be provided by the start of the course.
http://lists.lib.keele.ac.uk/modules/psy-20023/lists

Intended Learning Outcomes

analyse, identify, and contrast a range of neuroscience research methods: 2
evaluate the advantages and disadvantages of various neuroscience methods: 2
recognise the contexts in which these different methods are applied: 1,2
analyse, identify, and contrast the utilisation of neuroscience methods to our knowledge of cognition: 2

Study hours

24 hours of synchronous class activity
36 hours of prepared asynchronous work
90 hours of independent study and preparation plus engagement with assessments

School Rules

None

Description of Module Assessment

1: Multiple Choice Questions - Knowledge weighted 20%
4 x continuous MCQ quizzes
This continuous assessment will be 4 x MCQ quizzes delivered via the KLE across the semester. The quizzes will comprise of 10 questions per batch. The best 3 out of 4 quiz scores will be used to calculate the final score for each student, as per the School of Psychology's guidelines on use of continuous assessment.

2: Essay weighted 80%
2,000 word essay
This assessment is designed to test the depth of knowledge. The student will be asked to identify one area of cognitive psychology that interests them, and discuss how one neuroscience method has been used to investigate this topic. In the essay, the student must discuss the advantages and disadvantages of the method they have chosen in comparison to other neuroscience methods.

Please note that for the 2022/23 Academic Year programmes may be adapted to operate in accordance with a flexible, digital approach. This means that there may be some changes made to how modules are delivered and assessed. The latest information will be provided to you by your School in module handbooks. We endeavour to give you as much notice as possible of any changes and details about the circumstance in which changes are made to programmes can be found in the Student Agreement, available at: https://www.keele.ac.uk/student-terms-and-conditions/

Last Updated: 19 January 2023