Postgraduate Course: Neurobiology of Behaviour (NEBM11019)
Course Outline
| School | Edinburgh Medical School |
College | College of Medicine and Veterinary Medicine |
| Credit level (Normal year taken) | SCQF Level 11 (Postgraduate) |
Availability | Not available to visiting students |
| SCQF Credits | 20 |
ECTS Credits | 10 |
| Summary | This is an elective course for the MSc by Research in Integrative Neuroscience. Students learn about the neurobiological basis for behaviour and experimental approaches for probing the basis of a variety of behaviours. Students will practice and be evaluated in writing public outreach style summaries of research on this topic. |
| Course description |
Scope
The course will give a theoretical and methodological understanding of: - The neurobiological basis of behaviour - Experimental approaches to understanding behaviour - How to reduce complex scientific studies to simple terms, for public outreach and education of young generations.
Course delivery
Seminars will be delivered by the course team and guest lecturers who will present on their research topic. Students will gain exposure to experimental approaches to understanding behaviour.
Lectures discussing approaches to public outreach and how to communicate complex research topics for public outreach will also occur.
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Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
| Pre-requisites |
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Co-requisites | |
| Prohibited Combinations | |
Other requirements | None |
Course Delivery Information
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| Academic year 2026/27, Not available to visiting students (SS1)
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Quota: None |
| Course Start |
Semester 1 |
| Course Start Date |
21/09/2026 |
Timetable |
Timetable |
| Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) |
Total Hours:
200
(
Lecture Hours 54,
Formative Assessment Hours 6,
Summative Assessment Hours 1,
Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 4,
Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours
135 )
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| Assessment (Further Info) |
Written Exam
0 %,
Coursework
100 %,
Practical Exam
0 %
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| Additional Information (Assessment) |
In-course assessment: 100%
The in-course assessment will be through:
ICA1 (30%). Students will write a 500-word research abstract on an allocated lecture given in weeks two to five. Learning outcomes 1 & 2.
ICA2 (70%). A paper assignment which will be written like a news article for young ages (akin to Frontiers for Young Minds). Learning outcomes 1& 2.
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| Feedback |
Formative Feedback:
At the end of the first lecture given by the course organiser, students will be asked to write summary (abstract) of the lecture. The abstract will be collected and feedback will be given within two weeks.
During the workshops in week 10 and 11, students will present a 'chalk talk' outlining how they are going to make their final assessment topic relatable to a young lay audience. This could be done on a whiteboard or power point presentation. This will incorporate their training gained in discussions with the topic experts, along with a lecture and feedback session delivered by a member from the Department of Science Communication. After group discussions the students will receive oral feedback on their initial ideas in presenting their article to a young audience.
Summative feedback:
ICA1 and ICA2 will be marked by the course team, with written feedback provided against predefined criteria
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| No Exam Information |
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of neurobiological approaches to understanding behaviour and awareness of the current state of research.
- Demonstrate ability to communicate information effectively, especially to a public audience and young ages in particular.
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Reading List
| Recommended reading: Each guest lecturer will provide reading (2-3 research articles) to accompany their lecture(s). |
Additional Information
| Graduate Attributes and Skills |
Students will develop a critical understanding of the principal theories and concepts in their chosen elective field of interest. They will learn to apply critical analysis, evaluation and synthesis to forefront issues in their field of interest. They will learn to read and understand complex research topics and then reduce them to a level which is accessible for the public and especially young age groups (akin to the model of Frontiers in Young Minds). |
| Special Arrangements |
Course is restricted to MScR Integrative Neuroscience students only |
| Keywords | Not entered |
Contacts
| Course organiser | Prof Mike Ludwig
Tel: (0131 6)50 3275
Email: Mike.Ludwig@ed.ac.uk |
Course secretary | Miss Debbie Grahames
Tel: (0131 6)50 3160
Email: debbie.grahames@ed.ac.uk |
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