Undergraduate Course: Advanced Behavioural Neuroscience (PSYL10042)
Course Outline
| School | School of Philosophy, Psychology and Language Sciences |
College | College of Humanities and Social Science |
| Course type | Standard |
Availability | Available to all students |
| Credit level (Normal year taken) | SCQF Level 10 (Year 4 Undergraduate) |
Credits | 10 |
| Home subject area | Psychology |
Other subject area | None |
| Course website |
None |
Taught in Gaelic? | No |
| Course description | This course will examine current knowledge of major domains of Behavioural Neuroscience by discussing the issue of double dissociations within each one of them, including hemi-inattention, dysexecutive syndromes, apraxias and amnesias syndromes. It will introduce students to the major theoretical perspectives and the experimental evidence that has contributed to those perspectives, drawing mainly on behavioural, neuroimaging and neuroanatomical studies of brain damaged adults. Using both student-led presentations and small group discussions as well as examples in lectures, there will also be an examination of how theories of human cognition can be applied to the understanding of important aspects of the pathological brain.
The course will deal with experimental research approaches to the study of human cognitive neuroscience, focusing primarily on the use of neuropsychological experimental techniques in studies with brain damaged adults. There will be an emphasis on how such research has led to the development of cognitive theories. There will be extensive discussion of how to evaluate each of the main theories of amnesia, neglect, apraxia and executive dysfunctions using the research evidence. Conceptual theories will be considered alongside neuro-anatomical models and there will be a discussion of how behavioural data from patients and data from brain imaging techniques, such as fMRI might be complementary or conflicting. |
Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
| Pre-requisites |
Students MUST have passed:
Psychology Methodology 1 (PSYL10034)
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Co-requisites | |
| Prohibited Combinations | |
Other requirements | None |
| Additional Costs | None |
Information for Visiting Students
| Pre-requisites | None |
| Displayed in Visiting Students Prospectus? | Yes |
Course Delivery Information
| Not being delivered |
Summary of Intended Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this course, students will be able to evaluate:
-The link between brain structures and cognitive functions
-Traditional and contemporary theories of neuropsychological disorders
-Assessment techniques in neuropsychological research
-Differential diagnosis in neuropsychology
-Traditional and modern approach to memory disorders
-Neuroimaging techniques |
Assessment Information
100% exam
Visiting Student Variant Assessment
Long essay (3,000 words) to be set by the course organiser and due Friday 5pm Week 13. |
Special Arrangements
| None |
Additional Information
| Academic description |
Not entered |
| Syllabus |
Not entered |
| Transferable skills |
Not entered |
| Reading list |
Not entered |
| Study Abroad |
Not entered |
| Study Pattern |
Not entered |
| Keywords | Not entered |
Contacts
| Course organiser | Prof Sergio Della Sala
Tel: (0131 6)51 3242
Email: |
Course secretary | Ms Fiona Graham
Tel: (0131 6)50 3440
Email: |
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