Master
2023/2024
Neuroscience
Category 'Best Course for Broadening Horizons and Diversity of Knowledge and Skills'
Type:
Compulsory course (Cognitive Sciences and Technologies: From Neuron to Cognition)
Area of studies:
Psychology
Delivered by:
Institute for Cognitive Neuroscience
When:
1 year, 2, 3 module
Mode of studies:
offline
Open to:
students of one campus
Instructors:
Evgeny Blagoveshchensky,
Dmitry Bredikhin,
Victoria Moiseeva,
Ainur Ragimova,
Anna Shestakova,
Maria Volodina
Master’s programme:
Cognitive Sciences and Technologies: From Neuron to Cognition
Language:
English
ECTS credits:
6
Contact hours:
72
Course Syllabus
Abstract
"Neuroscience" is a basic course dealing with structure and functioning of the nervous system designed for the Master Program "Cognitive sciences and technologies: from neuron to cognition". Understanding basic principles of nervous system functioning is essential for the study of cognitive processes, since the latter intrinsically reside in brain functioning. Thus achieving a realistic understanding of the cognitive domain indispensably requires knowledge of basic features of the brain and principles of its functioning, its capacities, and limitations. The introductory part of the course includes a short summary on the history of neuroscience and a comparative survey of methods employed in studying the nervous system. Then follows a short update on neuroanatomy and neurohistology. The course includes the following major topics: signal transmission and processing in the nervous system; sensory systems of the brain; motor systems of the brain; neurophysiological bases of integrative brain functions including sleep and arousal, emotions and memory. The course "Neuroscience" is new and unique discipline within the educational programs of the National Research University Higher School of Economics. The course is based on contemporary scientific research in neuroscience and related scientific areas. It is essential in training competent specialist in the areas of cognitive sciences and technologies. The author of the course Boris V. Chernyshev has significant teaching experience, including reading the following related courses at National Research University Higher School of Economics and at Moscow State University: "Essential neurobiology", "Physiology of the central nervous system", "Physiology of sensory systems", "Physiology of higher nervous activity", "Social psychophysiology". The course implements several innovative authors' teaching techniques, including group discussions and two-choice tests.
Learning Objectives
- Students are aware of the subject of neuroscience, its foundation and connections to other branches of knowledge
- Students know methods of research in neuroscience applicable to the fields of psychology, social science and economics
- Students know the role of the nervous system functioning in human psychological processes and behaviour
- Students know physiological mechanisms and restrictions applicable to psychological processes and behaviour
Expected Learning Outcomes
- The student is able to distinguish the capacities and restrictions applied by brain structure and functioning to psychological processes.
- The student is able to relate psychological phenomena to the structure and functioning of the nervous system in relation to motor systems
- The student is able to relate psychological phenomena to the structure and functioning of the nervous system in relation to neural signalling
- The student is able to relate psychological phenomena to the structure and functioning of the nervous system in relation to sensory systems.
- The student is able to relate psychological phenomena to the structure and functioning of the nervous system.
- The student knows basic notions and definitions in neuroscience, its connections with other sciences.
- The student knows the basic functions of the nervous system in relation to integrative brain functions
- The student knows the basic functions of the nervous system in relation to motor systems
- The student knows the basic functions of the nervous system in relation to neural signalling
- The student knows the basic functions of the nervous system in relation to sensory systems.
- The student knows the basic structure of the nervous system.
- The student knows the methods used for the study of the nervous system structure and functioning.
- The student possesses skills for choosing appropriate neuroscience methods for psychological research.
- The student possesses skills for translation between psychological and physiological levels of interpretation of experimental data.
Course Contents
- Basic concepts and methods of neuroscience
- Structural organization of the nervous system
- Neural signalling
- Sensory systems
- Motor systems
- Integrative brain functions
Assessment Elements
- Tests (7 in total) at the end of each topic
- Written homework (3 homeworks in total)
Interim Assessment
- 2023/2024 3rd module0.7 * Tests (7 in total) at the end of each topic + 0.3 * Written homework (3 homeworks in total)
Bibliography
Recommended Core Bibliography
- Duane E. Haines, & Gregory A. Mihailoff. (2018). Fundamental Neuroscience for Basic and Clinical Applications E-Book. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsebk&AN=1616581
Recommended Additional Bibliography
- Gillett, G. (2018). From Aristotle to Cognitive Neuroscience. Cham, Switzerland: Palgrave Pivot. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsebk&AN=1942690
- White, J. S. (2008). Neuroscience (Vol. 2nd ed). New York: McGraw-Hill Professional. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsebk&AN=223742