COURSE MANUAL BEHAVIOUR AND THE BRAIN PART II: COGNITIVE
NEUROSCIENCE
Name: Cognitive Neuroscience
Code: P_BBAC_2
Credits: 6EC
Period: P6
Course Level: 200
Language: English
Tuition Faculty: Fac. of Behavioural and Movement Science
Course Coordinator dr. J.J.Fahrenfort
Examiner dr. J.J.Fahrenfort
Teaching Staff dr. J.J.Fahrenfort
Course information
1. Introduction
2. Design of the course
3. Learning objectives
4. Mandatory study materials
5. Overview of lectures and associated literature
6. Tutorial meetings
7. Dates and times
8. Grades
1. Introduction
In preminor Behavior and Brain 2 – Cognitive Neuroscience you will learn about mechanistic
reasoning, brain anatomy, brain imaging, and the implementation of cognitive and mental
processes in the central nerve system. The course provides a broad overview of the current
state of affairs in cognitive neuroscience regarding neural plasticity, perception, memory,
attention, consciousness and mental life and the research methods used in cognitive
neuroscience. In addition, you will gain a basic understanding of the degree to which human
behavior and mental life can be understood in terms of the architecture and computational
principles of the brain. The course puts special emphasis on mechanistic understanding and
computational principles and provides ample historical context. The workgroups are used to
explore theoretical viewpoints and practical applications of cognitive neuroscience through
discussions and presentations.
2. Design of the course
The course is taught full-time in period 6 and consists of three lectures a week, in addition
to self-study and tutorial meetings. The lectures take place on Tuesday, Wednesday and
Thursday, the tutorial meetings are on Friday.
3. Learning objectives
At the end of the course, you will have gained a basic understanding of some explanatory
models in cognitive neuroscience (computational, mechanistic). In addition, you will have
obtained a broad overview of the history of cognitive neuroscience, the most important
discoveries that were crucial in developing the field, and the people who made them. You
will have gained basic knowledge of the architecture of the brain and the evolutionary
history of the nervous system. You will have gained basic knowledge of the methods and
techniques used in cognitive neuroscience such as electrophysiology, EEG, fMRI, TMS and
tDCS. You will know which neural mechanisms are involved in vision and perception. You
will know some of the mechanisms involved in neural plasticity and memory, and finally,
you will have obtained a bird’s eye view of some current neurobiological theories of
consciousness and how they relate to attention.
4. Mandatory study materials
Brain and Behavior: A Cognitive Neuroscience Perspective by David
Eagleman and Jonathan Downar. Oxford University Press. ISBN: 9780195377682
Chapters 1-6 & 8-9 are mandatory reading/learning.
In addition, the lectures are mandatory study material.
5. Overview of lectures and associated literature
1. Introduction: explaining the brain (Chapter 1) (& Craver on Canvas facultative)
2. History, neurons and action potentials (Chapter 3)
3. Architecture of brain & nervous system (Chapter 2)
4. Methods to investigate the brain (Chapter 1)
5. Vision (Chapter 5 & 6)
6. Perceptual organization and binding (Chapter 5 & 6)
7. Neural plasticity and memory (Chapter 4 & 9)
8. Attention & consciousness (Chapter 8)
9. Q&A session
6. Tutorial meetings
(summary, more information will be provided during the meetings and on Canvas)
Deliverables tutorial meetings
In the first half of tutorial 2 and 3, subgroups of students will give presentations about a
topic from the study materials. After the third tutorial, each group submits a summary
document of the presentation that they gave, in which they provide a more in-depth
treatment of at least two questions that came up during or after their presentation. Both
the presentations and the summary document will be graded by the tutors.
Tutorial meeting 1
In this tutorial you will get a brief introduction to the course. You will learn about the
structure of the meetings, preparation, and final assignments. You will learn about the
details of the presentation assignment and when and with whom you will give a
presentation. During the meeting you will make groups for the presentations and final
assignment. This will be followed by a brief quiz, intended to reflect on what knowledge you
already possess and perhaps need to refresh regarding the brain and nervous system.
Lumping and splitting errors will be further explored during the meeting. What are examples
of lumping and splitting errors, and why is this so important for our understanding of the
brain?
Preparation:
• Search for one or more articles that highlight or point to lumping errors and/or
splitting errors.
• Read Chapter 1, 2 and 3
Tutorial meeting 2
In this tutorial the first round of presentations will take place. As audience members you will
actively engage with the presentations by coming up with critical questions. Your tutor will
explain the guidelines for the questions and what their purpose is. In the second half of the
tutorial, you will discuss some review questions dealing with the chapters you have read in
preparation for this tutorial. You will work on these questions in Google Jamboards in small
groups. At the end you will discuss each groups’ findings and possible difficulties.
Preparation:
• If it is your turn: prepare presentation about a topic (list of topics will be provided)
• Read Chapter 1, 5 and 6
• Think ahead about the review questions
Tutorial meeting 3
In this tutorial the last round of presentations will take place. Afterwards you will further
discuss the ‘Upgrades of the brain’ that you have found in preparation for this tutorial. You
will discuss how these devices would work in relation to brain mechanisms. You will also
discuss the practical and ethical concerns in regard to these upgrades. At the end of the
tutorial, you will fill out a brief tutor evaluation and have a last chance to ask questions
regarding the final assignment.
Preparation:
• If it is your turn: prepare presentation about a topic (list of topics will be provided)
• Read chapters 4, 8 and 9. Essential for a fruitful tutorial!
• Find a device/process that ‘Upgrades of the brain’ related to chapter 4, 8 and 9. You
will spend time in the tutorial to figure out in more detail how it works.
Tutorial attendance
Tutorial attendance is mandatory. Under special circumstances (funeral, wedding, illness
etc, but not ‘work’ or ‘holiday’), you are allowed to miss one tutorial at most. In case of such
a circumstance beyond your control, communicate timely and professionally with your tutor
and team members. A missed tutorial has to be compensated with a replacement
assignment, which consists of recording a 15-20 presentation on a topic that will be
assigned to you. If you miss more than one tutorial meeting, you will not be able to pass the
course.
7. Dates and times
What Date and time Location
Lecture 1 Tuesday June 6, 13:30 HG-02A00
Lecture 2 Wednesday June 7, 11:00 NU-00C745
Lecture 3 Thursday June 8, 9:00 MF-FG2
Tutorial week 1 Friday June 9, see https://rooster.vu.nl
Lecture 4 Tuesday June 13, 13:30 HG-02A00
Lecture 5 Wednesday June 14, 11:00 NU-00C745
Lecture 6 Thursday June 15, 13:30 MF-FG2
Tutorial week 2 Friday June 16, see https://rooster.vu.nl
Lecture 7 Tuesday June 20, 13:30 HG-02A00
Lecture 8 Thursday June 22, 9:00 MF-FG2
Tutorial week 3 Friday June 23, see https://rooster.vu.nl
Q&A session Thursday June 29, 9:00 ONLINE
Exam Friday June 30, 8:30 NU building
Re-sit Friday July 27, 12:15 TenT block 1 and 2
Mondays are reserved for self-study and preparation.
For the latest information regarding the location and time of lectures and exams go to
https://rooster.vu.nl. When in doubt, this online schedule always takes precedence.
8. Grades
The exam consists of 40 multiple choice questions about the lectures and the book. The final
grade is composed of the written exam (75%) and work group evaluation (presentations and
short reports, 25%). Both the written exam and the group evaluation must be sufficient to
be able to pass the course. Partial grades are only valid in the academic year in which the
grades have been achieved.
