PSYK1700 Cognitive Psychology and Neuroscience Course description

The course provides an introduction to the neurological basis of cognition and basal knowledge of cognitive psychology. Cognitive psychology deals with attention, sensing, perception, acts, linguistic processes, problem-solving, thinking, learning and memory.

Admission to the programme.

After completing the course, the student is expected to have achieved the following learning outcomes defined in terms of knowledge, skills and competence:

Knowledge

The student has

• knowledge of the neurobiological basis of behaviour
• knowledge of the central nervous system and the peripheral nervous system, including their structure and main functions
• is familiar with signal transfers in the brain and signal substances
• is familiar with methods used to study the brain, brain damage and effects on behaviour
• knowledge of key elements of cognitive psychology

Skills

The student is capable of

• using knowledge of cognitive psychology to explain phenomena that involve human thinking and behaviour

Competence

The student is capable of:

• using knowledge of cognitive psychology in connection with planning, rationalisation etc.

Work and teaching methods used in the course are lectures and self-study. Seminars will also be held where the students present subject matter in groups. Participation in these seminars is compulsory. Students will present texts from the syllabus and encourage discussion, and will receive supervision relating to guidance on further reading. During the course, the students will give four presentations related to key topics in the syllabus. The topics will be set by the lecturer.

The students’ learning outcomes will be documented through presentations and the exam.

• Participation at the seminars (80%)
• Presentation of given subject matter

The required coursework must be approved before the students can take the supervised written exam.

Supervised individual written exam, four hours.

None

A-F

One internal and one external examiner

Five ECTs overlap with the course PSYK1310 (15 ECTs) in the area of neuroscience.