Postgraduate Course: Disorders of language functions (PSYL11029)
Course Outline
| School | School of Philosophy, Psychology and Language Sciences |
College | College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences |
| Credit level (Normal year taken) | SCQF Level 11 (Postgraduate) |
Availability | Available to all students |
| SCQF Credits | 10 |
ECTS Credits | 5 |
| Summary | Since the very beginning of the scientific enquiry language disorders have played a crucial role in the study of human cognition and its representation in the brain. |
| Course description |
The course will begin with an introduction to the different medical, psychological and linguistic traditions and the way in which they have shaped the methods and models of aphasia research. The course will then examine the main types of aphasia and demonstrate how specific neuropathological mechanisms can influence the pattern of language breakdown observed in aphasic patients. It will draw on observation of different neurological conditions, including stroke as well as different forms of neurodegeneration such as progressive aphasia and semantic dementia. The insights won from the study of aphasia will be discussed in the context of current research in other areas of neuroscience.
The course will also address the issue of bi- and multilingualism and the question to what extent aphasic symptoms are shaped by specific features of different languages (cross-linguistic research).
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Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
| Pre-requisites |
Students MUST have passed:
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Co-requisites | |
| Prohibited Combinations | |
Other requirements | Students should have a background either in neuroanatomy / neuropsychology or in linguistics / psycholinguistics. Due to the interdisciplinary character of the course students are also expected to be prepared to assimilate knowledge from outside their original speciality |
Information for Visiting Students
| Pre-requisites | None |
| High Demand Course? |
Yes |
Course Delivery Information
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| Academic year 2020/21, Available to all students (SV1)
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Quota: 27 |
| Course Start |
Semester 2 |
Timetable |
Timetable |
| Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) |
Total Hours:
100
(
Lecture Hours 22,
Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 2,
Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours
76 )
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| Assessment (Further Info) |
Written Exam
0 %,
Coursework
100 %,
Practical Exam
0 %
|
| Additional Information (Assessment) |
Presentation (mid-course 50%)
An critical essay of 1500 words on one of the topics presented by another student (final assessment 50%) |
| Feedback |
General feedback is given in the last lecture, individual written feedback to students |
| No Exam Information |
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- recognise the main theoretical concepts underlying the study of aphasia and the way in which they influence the interpretation of aphasic phenomena
- familiarise themselves with the clinical picture of the main aphasic syndromes and their underlying pathology
- critically discuss the possible implications of aphasia research for our models of normal language function in the brain
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Reading List
Alfonso Ardila - Aphasia Handbook, Florida International University
Free download:
https://aalfredoardila.files.wordpress.com/2013/07/ardila-a-2014-aphasia-handbook-miami-fl-florida-international-university2.pdf |
Additional Information
| Graduate Attributes and Skills |
This course is highly interdisciplinary, including insights from medicine, psychology, neuroscience and linguistics, so whatever the academic background of the students might be, they should be prepared to make themselves familiar with other disciplines and their terminology. |
| Keywords | Aphasia,Language Disorders,Neuropsychology |
Contacts
| Course organiser | Dr Thomas Bak
Tel: (0131 6)50 9861
Email: thomas.bak@ed.ac.uk |
Course secretary | Miss Toni Noble
Tel: (0131 6)51 3188
Email: Toni.noble@ed.ac.uk |
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