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 | It is well known that as we get older our memory for events declines and there is an increase in false memory. The advent of brain imaging has given us new tools to understand episodic memory decline as well as generating new questions. This course explores how different theories of brain ageing can explain episodic memory decline. There will be a special emphasis on cognitive neuroimaging approaches, particularly functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI/MRI), but no prior specialist knowledge is assumed.
Our starting point will be three main theories of neurocognitive ageing: the frontal lobe hypothesis, the hippocampal ageing hypothesis, and generalised brain ageing hypotheses. We will consider three main ways in which these theories can be put to test: by examining memory encoding and retrieval separately, by asking to what degree strategic aspects of memory are specifically impaired, and by investigating changes in (pre)frontal cortex and hippocampus. In the last week, we will also discuss whether functional imaging data provide any basis for optimism about older brains¿ ability to compensate for cognitive decline.
This course differs from many option courses in that students are encouraged to select one of a few alternative coursework essay questions at the start of the course, to allow focussed reading around that question throughout. Proposal of your own question is encouraged but subject to approval. All classes are relevant to all topics.
Students are expected to read each week's key references beforehand to participate in class discussions, and to do self-directed reading around - not limited to - the material and examples covered in class. Each week's class 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: 2014/15 Block 3 (Sem 2), Available to all students (SV1)
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Learn enabled: Yes |
Quota: None |
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Web Timetable |
Web Timetable |
| Course Start Date |
12/01/2015 |
| 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 )
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| Additional Notes |
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| Breakdown of Assessment Methods (Further Info) |
Written Exam
0 %,
Coursework
100 %,
Practical Exam
0 %
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| 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
To discuss how these may give rise to episodic memory decline via changes at encoding and retrieval
To critically evaluate the three main theories discussed on the course in the light of the evidence
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Assessment Information
(10%) Students will write a 1 page reading response summary about one of the core readings and receive formative feedback. Due 4pm, Monday 9 February 2015.
(90%) Essay (3000 words) to be set by the course organiser and due 4pm, Thursday 26 February 2015.
Visiting Student Variant Assessment (100%)
Essay (3000 words)to be set by the course organiser and due 4pm, Thursday 11 December. |
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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