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

Programme/Approved Electives for 2025/26

Available as a Free Standing Elective

Co-requisites

None

Prerequisites

None

Barred Combinations

None

Description for 2025/26

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.

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

Study hours

This module will use a mixture of active learning (timetabled sessions and online materials) and independent study
Active Learning Hours (30 hours): Timetabled sessions will be 1.5 hours long and will fall into two main types: (1) Methods sessions will feature short interactive background talks and 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. Sessions can 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. In addition to the timetabled sessions, there will be approximately 60 minutes (per week) of pre-recorded videos or online activities in the KLE (e.g., human brain colouring book exercises).
Independent Study & Assessment Preparation (120 hours): This time is used to revise module materials, do wider reading for assessments, and to complete the assessments.

School Rules

None

Description of Module Assessment