Neuroscience is one of the fastest growing research areas with new concepts and ideas emerging all the time. Keeping track of these new areas is a challenging but rewarding task for the neuroscientist, especially those interested in deep knowledge of their subject and potentially interested in a research career. In this module you will learn about the most recent advances in neuroscience and their implications. You will be expected to read journal articles on a specific topic and learn how to summarize and evaluate the subject area concisely, in the process developing a better understand of the subject and an ability to identify the key points and what they mean for the future of neuroscience. Assessment will be on a portfolio of summaries of selected research topics (you will be able to choose your four best out of seven for assessment) and an exam that will ask questions that test your evidence-based knowledge of the subjects.
Evaluate current understanding of selected specific research topics in neuroscience. will be achieved by assessments: 1,2
Demonstrate skills in interpretation and comprehension of journal articles and associated lectures and how to summarize a current research topic concisely. will be achieved by assessments: 1
12 Hours tutorials
120 Hours private study
Each student will produce by the end of the module, a portfolio consisting of 500 word evaluations of four of the research topics (total seven topics) covered. In the evaluations, students will be expected to summarize and demonstrate understanding of each topic and evaluate its importance in the present day and future neuroscience. An initial 500 word evaluation of the first topic will be assessed formatively in the early part of the module and feedback given so that students will be able to see how to improve their submitted summaries. There will be marking criteria available as well - specifically markers will look for comprehension skills, evaluation of the topic in relation to previous work on it and its relationship with other research areas, and good use of additional literature. At the end of the module the student will hand in their portfolio containing their chosen 4 evaluations for summative assessment. They will also be asked to include a 500 word reflective overview of their portfolio (total words 2500) indicating the relevance of the topics to broader neuroscience themes and likely future directions that might stem from them.
A two-hour essay examination consisting of two essays chosen from a selection of five based on a subset of the research topics.
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