Course for international guest/part time students

Faculty

Faculty of Education and Psychology

Organization

PPK Institute of Psychology

Code

PSYB19-230

Title

Introduction to Cognitive Neuroscience

Usual semester

Spring

Published semester

2025/26/2

ECTS

3

Language

en

Learning outcomes

Aim of the course Aim of the course: The aim of this course is to provide an introduction to cognitive neuroscience, which studies the complex relationships between the mind, brain and behavior. Students will first gain an insight into the methods allowing to study the brain processes underlying cognition and behavior. They will then learn about the different functions of the brain, from lower-level processes to higher-level cognitive and affective processes: we will study how we sense and perceive the world, how we act on it, how we remember it. The neural background of consciousness, attention, language and emotional processes will also be discussed, as well as current issues in cognitive science. Learning outcome, competences knowledge: Basic terminology of cognitive neuroscience Current methods of cognitive neuroscience Fundamental experimental techniques to study the neural background of cognitive processes attitude: Biological determination of cognitive processes Critical evaluation of methodology skills: Skills in applying the principles of cognitive neuroscience methods Recognition of potential neural aspects of psychological functions autonomy, responsability Professionally appropriate application of acquired knowledge and skills according to the competence of the student

Course content

Content of the course Topic of the course Introduction to cognitive neuroscience: Historical background. Methods of cognitive neuroscience Sensory systems: Vision and hearing Motor Systems: The Organization of Action Consciousness Attention Memory: Varieties and Mechanisms Declarative memory Emotion Executive functions Language Key questions of cognitive science Learning activities, learning methods Lectures, interactive discussions

Assessment method

Evaluation of outcomes Learning requirements, mode of evaluation and criteria of evaluation: Solid knowledge on the neural background of basic psychological functions Mode of evaluation: Written exam, computer based test Criteria of evaluation: Knowledge of basic concepts Knowledge of basic methods Knowledge of basic experimental results

Bibliography

Reading list Compulsory reading list Purves, D., Brannon, E. M., Cabeza, R., Huettel, S. A., LaBar, K. S., Platt, M. L., & Woldorff, M. G. (2008). Principles of Cognitive Neuroscience. Sinauer Associates

Programmes of the course