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

On successful completion of the course, the student has the following learning outcomes classified as knowledge, skills and competence:

Knowledge

• The student can
• analyze and critically assess the scientific work of others

Skills

The student can

• demonstrate working knowledge of the ethical and technical principles that govern scientific research and publication, including international citation and reference standards
• demonstrate that they can conduct a supervised research project in accordance with research ethics guidelines and regulations, and guidelines from relevant governmental bodies (i. e. The Norwegian Data Protection Authority, relevant Norwegian Research Ethics Committees and so on)
• choose and apply relevant methods of data collection for research or scientific inquiry
• write a thesis according to criteria determined by the university
• critically assess the results of his own work
• critically assess various sources of information

Competence

The student can

• participate in the development of the behavioral sciences
• justify their professional behavior with reference to ethical guidelines, general ethical considerations and their own assessment of the situation
• analyze and critically assess various sources of information with relevance for the thesis.

The thesis outline and thesis are individual work. Submission of thesis outline is required before a supervisor is appointed. Thesis outline must be submitted the semester before thesis submission at the latest. Students are advised to find a lab group to participate in.

Thesis supervision is compulsory. Each candidate gets a maximum of 30 hours of supervision during the thesis work. If a non-faculty supervisor is appointed, resources are divided by 2/3 of the time for the main supervisor and 1/3 for the second supervisor.