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PSY-40189 - Module Specification
School of Psychology
Faculty of Natural Sciences

For academic year: 2025/26 Last Updated: 04 December 2025

PSY-40189 - Frontiers in Cognition and Cognitive Neuroscience
Coordinator: Einat Rashal
Lecture Time: See Timetable...
Level: Level 7
Credits: 30
Study Hours: 300
School Office: 01782 733736

Programme/Approved Electives for 2025/26

None

Available as a Free Standing Elective

No

Co-requisites

None

Prerequisites

None

Barred Combinations

None

Description for 2025/26

This module will engage you with contemporary topics and research in cognitive psychology and cognitive neuroscience. Not only will you acquire advanced theoretical understanding of core topics in Cognition and Cognitive Neuroscience, but you will also learn about the most cutting-edge research topics being explored by our own researchers, such as memory, perception, stem cells, (dis)honesty, psychiatric disorders, and more. These exciting topics will be explored via lively journal-club type discussion sessions.

Aims
This module aims to advance students’ knowledge and understanding of key concepts and research in cognitive psychology and cognitive neuroscience.
To develop a critical awareness of current issues and new insights in this area of psychological and neuroscience research and practice.
To engage students in journal club style discussions in which students will debate a diversity of cognitive and cognitive neuroscience topics with peers and expert researchers in these fields.
To provide students with the chance to develop an understanding of how cognitive psychology and cognitive neuroscience can intersect with applied fields like clinical neuropsychology.

Talis Aspire Reading List
Any reading lists will be provided by the start of the course.
http://lists.lib.keele.ac.uk/modules/psy-40189/lists

Intended Learning Outcomes

describe and explain key concepts, theories, and methods from cognitive psychology, cognitive neuroscience, and related fields: 1,2
clearly communicate theories and research evidence in cognition, cognitive neuroscience, and related fields to specialist and nonspecialist audiences: 1,2
find and critically evaluate literature relating to theoretical, empirical research, and/or practical skills in cognition, cognitive neuroscience, and related fields: 1,2
critically reflect on ways in which cognitive psychology and cognitive neuroscience can be applied in real world contexts: 2

Study hours

Synchronous hours: 48 hours of in person class time
Asynchronous hours:
- 112 hours of independent study
- 140 hours of assessment preparation

School Rules

None

Description of Module Assessment

1: Poster weighted 30%
Poster presentation
You will produce a research poster (A1 size) and deliver a short verbal presentation (5-minutes) of your poster. The poster will summarize key elements of one of the scientific papers discussed in the sessions (i.e., from the core reading supplied by the teaching team on KLE). The poster should include the research question(s), theoretical framework, methodology, and key findings (e.g., results and their interpretation). Posters must be clearly structured, professionally presented, and appropriately referenced, making use of visual elements (e.g., figures, tables, diagrams) where relevant to aid clarity and impact. Posters should demonstrate clarity, critical insight, and the ability to communicate research to an academic audience. Following the presentation, students will participate in a Q&A session (approximately 10–minutes) with academic staff (i.e., markers). This will assess the student’s ability to articulate and demonstrate critical engagement with theory and evidence, and reflect on methodological, ethical, and practical aspects of the research process. Students will be provided with indicative questions in advance to support their preparation. However, staff may also ask additional questions to explore specific aspects of the project in more depth.

2: Essay weighted 70%
Critical evaluation
Students will write a 2,800 word critical evaluation on a chosen theory of cognition or cognitive neuroscience, that analyses how the theory has been applied to or explains a human behavior, and where it sits within the research field. Students will choose from the topics covered in the sessions and are expected to use one of the papers provided by the teaching team as their starting point for their critical evaluation and further explore it with wider reading, demonstrating an understanding of strengths and weaknesses of the theories in the field, as well as criticality of methodological decisions and interpretation of results.

The University undertakes a continuous review of its teaching and research provision to ensure programmes are of a high quality and changes may be made to modules where it is necessary and reasonable to do so. Please be aware that minor changes to modules, such as a change to an individual assessment, can occur up until enrolment, although we endeavour to give you as much notice as possible of any changes. 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/legalgovernancecompliance/governance/actcharterstatutesordinancesandregulations/studenttermsconditions/

Last Updated: 04 December 2025