PSYC2230 – Cognitive neuroscience

Course content

This course provides students with a fundamental introduction to understanding psychological phenomena within a neuroscientific context. This includes understanding the potentials and limitations of this perspective in explaining human thinking and behavior. The curriculum and instruction will cover four main areas: 1. Basic neuroanatomy and neurophysiology, 2. Research methods in cognitive neuroscience, 3. Key theories for understanding the organization of psychological functions in the brain, and 4. Concrete examples from research literature, illuminating topics such as memory, executive functions, mental imagery, brain development and/or aging, emotions, and mental health (the selection of topics may vary from semester to semester).

The course consists of a series of lectures addressing the first three areas and a series of seminars where these are connected with concrete examples from research through specific exercises and student presentations. Additionally, there will be a brain demonstration using dissected human brains, offered in collaboration with the Faculty of Medicine.

The aim of the course is to equip students to engage with neuroscientific issues and read original literature, enabling them to continue in the field throughout their careers, whether later in their studies or in professional settings. The knowledge and skills acquired from this course also lay the foundation for clinical neuropsychology, part of the professional psychology program, and the master's specialization in cognitive neuroscience at UiO.

Learning outcome

Knowledge

You should be able to:

• Describe the structure of the brain and nervous system, and the physiological basis for neural activity.
• Describe key research methods in cognitive neuroscience, with emphasis on lesion studies, brain imaging, and EEG.
• Explain central theories regarding the organization of psychological functions in the brain, such as localization-based and network-based models.
• Account for neuroscientific explanations within a selection of key psychological functions and psychological development.

Skills

You should acquire neuroscience literacy, meaning you will be able to:

• Read and understand theoretical and empirical articles in cognitive neuroscience, and critically evaluate methods and scholarly arguments.
• Perform a critical evaluation of conclusions drawn from neuroscientific research.
• Engage with new issues within the field.
• Navigate a brain atlas (i.e., identify the main brain regions and understand how they are interconnected).

General Competence

• Familiarity with how research is presented in a scientific article format, and how the different elements of an article should be read and understood, including how issues are formulated.
• Understanding of how psychological questions are operationalized and connected with measures of brain function.
• Understanding of how biological and psychological factors interact to inhibit and promote mental health and brain health.

Overlapping courses

• 10 credits overlap with PSY2302 – Brain and cognition (discontinued).
• 5 credits overlap with PSYC2206 – Kognitiv nevrovitenskap 1 (discontinued).
• 5 credits overlap with PSYC2207 – Kognitiv nevrovitenskap 2 (discontinued).

Teaching

Teaching in the Fall semester:

Instruction consists of 10 lectures, 8 seminars, and a brain dissection demonstration (in groups).

The lectures will introduce students to brain anatomy and physiology, the most central neuroscience research methods, key theories, and historical developments.

In the seminars, we work on specific topics from 4 review articles included in the curriculum, which address selected topics in cognitive neuroscience through group presentations and discussions. We also explore how empirical articles test hypotheses related to neuroscientific issues tied to the topics from the review articles, and how this can be understood in the context of the course literature. The seminars also include assignments where students practice describing neuroscientific methods and analyses. During the exam, students will be presented with an empirical article not included in the curriculum and must answer questions related to methods and arguments, as well as questions from the curriculum itself. The seminars will therefore prepare students for the exam, as well as assist in developing neuroscience literacy. Participation in the seminars is not mandatory, but students must participate in either a group presentation or contribute educational content to the Canvas room (e.g., initiate and moderate a discussion thread, create a quiz, or similar approved by the course instructor).

The brain demonstration will take place at the laboratory of the Faculty of Medicine, showing where the most important brain structures are located in a human brain.

Teaching in the Spring semester:

This teaching option is available to students who, for various reasons (e.g., illness or exchange programs), are unable to follow the course's regular schedule in the fall, and admission must be applied for separately. The instruction consists of self-study (curriculum and online resources) and 8 seminars.

Seminars follow the same setup as in the fall semester (see above). Participation in the seminars is not mandatory, but students must participate in either a group presentation or contribute educational content to the Canvas room (e.g., initiate and moderate a discussion thread, create a quiz, or similar approved by the course instructor). A brain demonstration is not offered.

Approved mandatory activities are valid for the next two semesters the course is offered.

Examination

4 hours school exam

More about examinations at UiO

• Use of sources and citations
• How to use AI as a student
• Special exam arrangements due to individual needs
• Withdrawal from an exam
• Illness at exams / postponed exams
• Explanation of grades and appeals
• Resitting an exam
• Cheating/attempted cheating

You will find further guides and resources at the web page on examinations at UiO.