THE UNIVERSITY of EDINBURGH

DEGREE REGULATIONS & PROGRAMMES OF STUDY 2010/2011
- ARCHIVE for reference only
THIS PAGE IS OUT OF DATE

University Homepage
DRPS Homepage
DRPS Search
DRPS Contact
DRPS : Course Catalogue : School of Biomedical Sciences : Neuroscience (Biomedical Sciences)

Undergraduate Course: The Neurobiology of Cognition (NEBM10025)

Course Outline
School School of Biomedical Sciences College College of Medicine and Veterinary Medicine
Course type Standard Availability Not available to visiting students
Credit level (Normal year taken) SCQF Level 10 (Year 4 Undergraduate) Credits 10
Home subject area Neuroscience (Biomedical Sciences) Other subject area None
Course website None Taught in Gaelic? No
Course description Progress in contemporary neuroscience is beginning to give us a handle on the network, cellular, molecular and genetic mechanisms that underlie 'cognition'. This second-semester course will build on the foundations laid in Term 1 in courses such as Cognitive Neuroscience, Learning and Memory and Neurogenetics and be suitable for students who have done at least two of these courses.

The course will consist of a mixture of lectures and seminars concerning the underlying neural mechanisms of perception, attention, learning and memory, and action-selection and initiation. Research conducted using both humans and animals will be covered. Key ideas to be covered include concepts such as the canonical cortical circuit, overt and covert attention, the dissociable mechanisms of encoding, storage, consolidation and retrieval of memory, and the distinct circuits underlying actions and habits. The course will focus upon both normal function, and how cognition suffers in both neurodegenerative and psychiatric disease.

Students will be expected to work together in groups to present a synopsis of recent assigned research papers in one seminar, to suggest ways in which current research could be creatively improved, and give a short $ùpublic engagement&© type of talk in a final seminar.
Entry Requirements
Pre-requisites It is RECOMMENDED that students have passed Cognitive Neuroscience (NEBM10003) OR Learning and Memory (NEBM10018) OR Neurogenetics (NEBM10011)
Co-requisites
Prohibited Combinations Other requirements Students should have taken at least two out of the three recommended courses.
Additional Costs None
Course Delivery Information
Delivery period: 2010/11 Block 3 (Sem 2), Not available to visiting students (SS1) WebCT enabled:  Yes Quota:  None
Location Activity Description Weeks Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday
CentralLecture1-6 14:00 - 17:00
CentralLecture1-6 14:00 - 17:00
First Class Week 1, Wednesday, 10:00 - 13:00, Zone: Central. Biomedical Tutorial Room 2 **WED 12 JAN**
No Exam Information
Summary of Intended Learning Outcomes
At the start of the course, the incoming students would be expected to have some understanding of cognitive neuroscience, or learning and memory, or how genetic mutations are associated with alterations in cognitive function.

By the end of the course, the students would:
1. Recognise distinct and dissociable components of cognitive function in humans and animals.
2. Understand that it is the interplay of specific neural circuits, together with synaptic and cellular mechanisms guided by distinct patterns of gene activation that collectively determine the normal but distinct aspects of cognitive function.
3. Understand how this delicate balance can be disturbed by brain injury, by drugs and by genetic mutations.
4. Realise the value of an interdisciplinary approach to cognitive function rather than one based solely on psychological experiments at one of the spectrum or the discovery of genetic mutations at the other end.
Assessment Information
As a Semester 2 Course, the students would be assessed by an $ùin-course&© procedure in which the marks for the course work would be divided into three parts.

1. One-third of the grades for successful verbal presentation, as a member of a group, of a recent published paper.

2. One-third of the grades, as a member of a group, for the successful written presentation of ways in which some aspect of contemporary cognitive research in neuroscience could be creatively improved.

3. One-third of the grades, as a member of a group, for the successful multi-media presentation of a short $ùpublic engagement&© type talk on a specific topic.
Special Arrangements
None
Additional Information
Academic description Not entered
Syllabus Not entered
Transferable skills Not entered
Reading list Not entered
Study Abroad Not entered
Study Pattern Not entered
Keywords Not entered
Contacts
Course organiser Prof Richard Ribchester
Tel: (0131 6)50 3256
Email: rrr@ed.ac.uk
Course secretary Ms Tina Harvey
Tel: (0131 6)51 3094
Email: Tina.Harvey@ed.ac.uk
Navigation
Help & Information
Home
Introduction
Glossary
Search DPTs and Courses
Regulations
Regulations
Degree Programmes
Introduction
Browse DPTs
Courses
Introduction
Humanities and Social Science
Science and Engineering
Medicine and Veterinary Medicine
Other Information
Timetab
Prospectuses
Important Information
 
copyright 2011 The University of Edinburgh - 31 January 2011 8:03 am