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DEGREE REGULATIONS & PROGRAMMES OF STUDY 2022/2023

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DRPS : Course Catalogue : School of Philosophy, Psychology and Language Sciences : Psychology

Postgraduate Course: Contemporary Topics in Cognitive Neuroscience (PSYL11101)

Course Outline
SchoolSchool of Philosophy, Psychology and Language Sciences CollegeCollege of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences
Credit level (Normal year taken)SCQF Level 11 (Postgraduate) AvailabilityNot available to visiting students
SCQF Credits20 ECTS Credits10
SummaryThe course focuses on research content and covers some of the cutting-edge cognitive neuroscience research undertaken by the Human Cognitive Neuroscience unit at University of Edinburgh. Indicative topics include (but are not restricted to) visual perception, memory, executive function, attention and action, language processing, and cortical development. This course consists of a combination of traditional lectures and small group student-led discussion sessions.
Course description This team-led content-based course will cover some of the cutting-edge cognitive neuroscience work undertaken by members of the Human Cognitive Neuroscience unit.

The course is broken down into five content topics each one being delivered by a different member of the HCN teaching team. The content of blocks will be tailored to the specialisation of the teaching team member, possibly covering research fields such as visual perception, memory, executive function, attention and action, language processing, and cortical development.

Within each block students will learn about the type of research ongoing within that research field and how that research informs our understanding of the human mind and brain. This could include learning about recent advancements in methodology or theory, current controversies or new ground-breaking discoveries. Students also learn what challenges cognitive neuroscience research faces and what the key questions are for the future.

Traditional content-based lectures will be complemented by student-led discussion sessions. These sessions could include activities such as, critically evaluating an empirical paper, designing a research experiment or debating a contentious issue in a particular research field.
Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
Pre-requisites Co-requisites
Prohibited Combinations Other requirements None
Course Delivery Information
Academic year 2022/23, Not available to visiting students (SS1) Quota:  22
Course Start Semester 1
Timetable Timetable
Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) Total Hours: 200 ( Lecture Hours 20, Seminar/Tutorial Hours 10, Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 4, Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours 166 )
Assessment (Further Info) Written Exam 0 %, Coursework 100 %, Practical Exam 0 %
Feedback Formative feedback is given by both the lecturer and fellow students throughout the course, in particular in relation to students presentations/leading of discussion (weeks 4 to 11). Specifically, each student is expected to discuss the content of their chosen discussion topic with the lecturer prior to their presentation and implement their feedback to ensure these sessions serve as a high-quality learning experience for other students.
No Exam Information
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
  1. Provide an informed account of ongoing research within featured sub-field of Cognitive Neuroscience.
  2. Identify key future research questions and anticipated challenges.
  3. Summarise and critically evaluate cognitive neuroscience research.
  4. Engage in constructive discussions surrounding aspects of cognitive neuroscience research
  5. Effective written and oral communication of cognitive neuroscience methodology, analysis and interpretation.
Reading List
To be confirmed
Additional Information
Graduate Attributes and Skills Research and enquiry skills: independent literature search, digital literacy.
Intellectual skills: thinking critically, independently and creatively; distinguishing between important regularities and less relevant details.
Personal management skills: establishing goals and effectively using resources to achieve these; managing complexity and self-direction.
Communication skills: engaging effectively in or and written discussions.
KeywordsVision,memory,language,development,executive function,attention and action
Contacts
Course organiserDr Robert McIntosh
Tel: (0131 6)50 3444
Email: r.d.mcintosh@ed.ac.uk
Course secretaryMs Pilar Rodriguez Couceiro
Tel: (0131 6)51 5002
Email: mrodrig8@ed.ac.uk
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