Undergraduate Course: Memory, Ageing and the Brain (PSYL10095)
Course Outline
| School | School of Philosophy, Psychology and Language Sciences |
College | College of Humanities and Social Science |
| Course type | Standard |
Availability | Available to all students |
| Credit level (Normal year taken) | SCQF Level 10 (Year 4 Undergraduate) |
Credits | 10 |
| Home subject area | Psychology |
Other subject area | None |
| Course website |
None |
Taught in Gaelic? | No |
| Course description | The fact that older people are less able to remember events than younger people is well known, and has been studied for many years. The advent of brain imaging has prompted a renewal of interest in the reasons for this decline in episodic memory, and generated new questions about it. This course will consider how brain changes are thought to lead to memory problems as people get old, in the absence of dementia. Our starting point will be a set of questions about 1) the nature of the difficulties older adults encounter in encoding and retrieving episodic memories 2) the degree to which some memory functions are preserved whilst others are impaired, 3) the degree to which some brain functions are preserved whilst others deteriorate, and 4) whether functional imaging data provide any basis for optimism about older brains¿ potential for plasticity and compensation for cognitive decline.
There will be a special emphasis on cognitive neuroimaging methods, but no prior knowledge of brain imaging is assumed. The course provides an introduction to its use in the study of cognition in combination with behavioural approaches. The case of episodic memory will be used to illustrate broader issues in the cognitive neuroscience of typical and successful ageing.
Each week's session will comprise a lecture as well as group discussions based on the course readings.
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Information for Visiting Students
| Pre-requisites | Degree major in Psychology and passes in Psychology courses at least to the equivalent of Junior Honours level in Edinburgh. Prior agreement with the 4th Year Honours Course Organiser. |
| Displayed in Visiting Students Prospectus? | Yes |
Course Delivery Information
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| Delivery period: 2013/14 Block 2 (Sem 1), Available to all students (SV1)
|
Learn enabled: Yes |
Quota: None |
Web Timetable |
Web Timetable |
| Course Start Date |
21/10/2013 |
| Breakdown of Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) |
Total Hours:
100
(
Lecture Hours 10,
Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 2,
Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours
88 )
|
| Additional Notes |
|
| Breakdown of Assessment Methods (Further Info) |
Written Exam
0 %,
Coursework
100 %,
Practical Exam
0 %
|
| No Exam Information |
|
| Delivery period: 2013/14 Block 2 (Sem 1), Part-year visiting students only (VV1)
|
Learn enabled: No |
Quota: None |
Web Timetable |
Web Timetable |
| Course Start Date |
21/10/2013 |
| Breakdown of Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) |
Total Hours:
100
(
Lecture Hours 10,
Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 2,
Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours
88 )
|
| Additional Notes |
|
| Breakdown of Assessment Methods (Further Info) |
Written Exam
0 %,
Coursework
100 %,
Practical Exam
0 %
|
| No Exam Information |
Summary of Intended Learning Outcomes
By the end of the course students should be able:
- To understand the principal brain changes that occur in ageing, and how they may be linked to the typical pattern of memory decline
- To discuss how the neural correlates of episodic memory encoding and retrieval change in older compared to younger adults
- To demonstrate knowledge of the theoretical issues raised by neuroimaging studies of cognitive function in ageing
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Assessment Information
Students will write a 1 page reading response summary about one of the core readings and receive formative feedback (10%).
3000 word essay set by the course organiser (90%).
Due 4pm Thursday 16 January 2014, week 1.
Visiting student variant assessment
Essay (3000 words) to be set by the Course Organiser and due Friday 4pm, week 13. |
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 | Dr Alexandra Morcom
Tel: (0131 6)51 1907
Email: alexa.morcom@ed.ac.uk |
Course secretary | Ms Fiona Graham
Tel: (0131 6)50 3440
Email: F.Graham@ed.ac.uk |
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