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PSY-20056 - Module Specification
School of Psychology
Faculty of Natural Sciences

For academic year: 2024/25 Last Updated: 05 May 2024

PSY-20056 - Neuroimaging & Cognitive Neuroscience
Coordinator: Joseph Brooks Room: N/A Tel: +44 1782 7 32963
Lecture Time: See Timetable...
Level: Level 5
Credits: 15
Study Hours: 150
School Office: 01782 733736

Programme/Approved Electives for 2024/25

None

Available as a Free Standing Elective

No

Co-requisites

None

Prerequisites

None

Barred Combinations

None

Description for 2024/25

One of science¿s biggest unanswered questions regards how complex cognition, behaviour, and consciousness arise from the structure and activity of the brain. In this module, you will learn about the methods and applications of cognitive neuroscience as a way to study brain-behaviour relationships, to test psychological theories of cognition, and to understand the effects of brain injury and disease. You will be introduced to brain imaging methods such as functional magnetic resonance imaging (FMRI) and EEG, brain stimulation (e.g., TMS), eye-tracking, studies of patients with brain injury, and more. In addition to covering how each method works, you will learn the applications of each method to theoretical, applied, or clinical issues. The module will teach you how to appropriately interpret evidence from cognitive neuroscience for application to your own area of practice or interest within Psychology and help you to compare the methods in terms of their relative advantages and disadvantages.

Aims
This module aims to provide students with a detailed introduction to the fields of cognitive neuroscience, introducing brain imaging and other cognitive neuroscience methods (e.g., eye-tracking, brain stimulation) and how they can be applied to theoretical questions across psychology and related fields (e.g., neuroscience, philosophy of mind). The module will develop students¿ ability to critically evaluate and interpret cognitive neuroscience research, design research with these methods, and compare the methods in terms of their relative advantages and disadvantages. The module will help psychology students appropriately evaluate and integrate evidence from cognitive neuroscience into their own area of practice or interest within Psychology.

Intended Learning Outcomes

contrast and critically analyse a range of cognitive neuroscience research methods: 2
develop an appropriate research study design with cognitive neuroscience methods which are suited to the question/application at hand and recognise the limitations inherent in each method: 1
critically appraise and interpret research results from cognitive neuroscience in their application to theoretical and applied problems in Psychology and related fields: 2
critically appraise research study designs in neuroimaging and cognitive neuroscience studies and draw appropriate conclusions including any limitations: 1,2

Study hours

This module will use a mixture of synchronous teaching sessions and a set of online assets for asynchronous access.
Synchronous teaching: These sessions will be 1.5 hours long and will fall into two main types: (1) Methods sessions will feature short interactive background talks, interactive activities (e.g., formative MCQ quizzes) and, where appropriate, live methods demonstrations; (2) Applications sessions will comprise 2-3 short talks on example applications/experiments using a method and include demos of experimental paradigm on screen. These will also include interactive elements such as formative MCQs, polls, etc. A few sessions may have methods and applications elements mixed into one session because they do not require two sessions for full coverage. Total: 1.5 x 12 = 18 hours.
Asynchronous Work: These will require 3-4 hours of interaction per week. These will comprise a mixture of pre-recorded mini-lectures, exercises (e.g., human brain colouring book exercises), relevant videos, assigned readings. The amount of time intended for each element will be specified for each week. Total = 42 hours.
Independent Study & Assessment Preparation: This time is used to revise module materials, do wider reading for assessments, and to complete the assessments. Total = 90 hours.

School Rules

None

Description of Module Assessment

1: Research Proposal weighted 80%
2000 word Research Proposal
Students will propose a study using one or more of the first 2-3 cognitive neuroscience methods covered in the module to answer a question on a topic of their choice within cognition, emotion, or brain injury/disease. Students will be given guidance on the rough outline to cover and acceptable topics.

2: Multiple Choice Questions - Knowledge weighted 20%
4x Continuous Online MCQ Quizzes
This continuous assessment will be 4 x MCQ quizzes delivered via the KLE across the semester. The quizzes will comprise of 10 questions per batch and students will have two weeks from the time of release to complete the questions online. Questions will be designed to require students to contrast and critically analyse different methods, critically interpret example cog neuro data, and evaluate study designs for various methods. Thus, these questions mimic the types of decisions a consumer of cognitive neuroscience studies would need to take within their psychological practice. For example, a set of questions might require a student to read an excerpt of a published paper and then answer questions on which conclusions they would draw for a particular application to theory or practice (e.g., based on the evidence, should our depression treatment service adopt repetitive TMS brain stimulation at 10 Hz, non-repetitive stimulation, beta frequency stimulation, no stimulation)? Answers and feedback will only be released after the deadline has passed. The best 3 out of 4 quiz scores will be used to calculate the final score for each student, as per the School of Psychology's guidelines on use of continuous assessment. This assessment will ensure that we can assess the breadth of methods covered in the module without significantly increasing the writing burden on students.

Please note that for the 2022/23 Academic Year programmes may be adapted to operate in accordance with a flexible, digital approach. This means that there may be some changes made to how modules are delivered and assessed. The latest information will be provided to you by your School in module handbooks. We endeavour to give you as much notice as possible of any changes and details about the circumstance in which changes are made to programmes can be found in the Student Agreement, available at: https://www.keele.ac.uk/student-terms-and-conditions/

Last Updated: 05 May 2024