Advanced Cognitive Neuroscience: Imaging Human Brain Functions

Course goals

This course will provide methodological knowledge to complement the topical knowledge of the other Cognitive Neuroscience courses. The idea is that students combine the topical and methodological knowledge to better understand the experimental procedures and are then well positioned to design their own experiments. These are skills the students will need if they intend to pursue a Master’s and/or PhD degree.
 
After completing this course students are able to:

• understand the most prevalent neuroimaging techniques in terms of acquisition and analysis
• comprehend fundamental applications
• conduct a critical evaluation of the literature
• can design a proper cognitive neuroimaging experiment, including matching the proper technique with the appropriate research question

 The aims are all touched upon to some degree in the lectures and assignments. The focus of the lectures lies on the first two whereas the focus of the assignments is on the latter two.

Relationship between assessment and learning goals:
[1] understand the most prevalent neuroimaging techniques in terms of acquisition and analysis [midterm and final exam]
[2] comprehend the cognitive applications [midterm and final exam]
[3] conduct and present a critical evaluation of the literature in scientific and popular science-based contexts [group assignments]
[4] can design a proper cognitive neuroimaging experiment, including matching the proper technique with the appropriate research question [individual assignment]

 

Content

Cognitive neuroscience at the 100 and 200 level covers a broad overview of the diverse range of cognitive neuroscience topics. This 300 level course will focus on human neuroimaging, in particular structural and functional magnetic resonance imaging (s/fMRI) and Electroencephalography (EEG), and how these techniques can be combined with neurostimulation methods.
 
Theoretical knowledge on top of what you already know from the previous cognitive neuroscience courses will be provided by video lectures and reading material. Two group assignments will require you to review and present neuroscience literature on a topic of your choice. In an individual assignment, you will write a research proposal in which you introduce and design a neuroscience study on a topic of your own choosing. Practical sessions on EEG, MRI and brain stimulation will give you hands-on experience of the discussed methods.
 
I have tried to setup the course in such a way as to provide you with knowledge about the workings of imaging techniques, ways to design a study, and how to process, interpret and report the data. At the end of the course you should be able to able to critically evaluate scientific research papers and have an idea on which technique to use for a given research question.

 As this is a 300 level course, I expect you to show initiative and actively participate in the sessions. Vice versa, you can expect from me to be actively involved in helping you discover the field of neuroscience. If you are enthusiastic about any particular topic, I will be glad to discuss this with you and maybe bring you in contact with experts in the field.