MSc Cognitive Neuroscience

Our MSc Cognitive Neuroscience combines research method training with in-depth study of the subject as a whole. During your time with us you’ll become familiar with modern psychological research methods, including for example EEG, TMS, and fMRI.

You will gain the ability to understand the neural basis of cognition, prepare research proposals, conduct critical reviews, and perform hands-on data analysis. You will also acquire transferable skills in oral and written communication, and in the analysis of complex data sets. You can also undertake a research placement tailored to the specific skills you need to enhance your employability.

The programme includes compulsory modules, which will give you a solid grounding in the subject’s key areas, and optional modules, which you’ll choose according to your specific interests.

The course builds to a substantial piece of Master’s research, which you will undertake with the supervision of active researchers in the School of Psychology. Take a look at the School of Psychology’s webpage to find a researcher who works on a topic that interests you. We encourage you to contact our academics to discuss your research interests and find out how we can help you explore those areas before you apply.

About

Cognitive neuroscience is one of psychology’s most fast-moving and fundamental areas, bringing together aspects of psychology and neuroscience.

On our Cognitive Neuroscience Master’s programme you will combine research methodology training with in-depth study at the cutting edge of the field to gain understanding of the neural basis for cognition and sensorimotor skills. The course builds to a substantial piece of Master’s research, which you will undertake with the supervision of active researchers.

You’ll also benefit from a tailored research placement, through which you’ll acquire and hone further research skills.

You can complete your course in one year full-time or over two years part-time. It is ideal if you are a high calibre psychology graduate, or a graduate of a related discipline such as medicine, neuroscience, or biological sciences and are preparing for a PhD in the subject, or aim to pursue a career with a significant research element.

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New research has found that people with high levels of autistic traits are more likely to produce unusually creative ideas.

Important Information

Whilst the University will make every effort to offer the courses listed, changes may sometimes be made arising from the regular review of course programmes. Where this activity leads to significant (but not minor) changes to programmes, there will normally be prior consultation of students and others. Changes may for example consist of variations to the content and method of delivery of programmes, courses and other services, to discontinue programmes, courses and other services and to merge or combine programmes or courses. The University will endeavour to keep such changes to a minimum, and will inform students.

Assessment for Year 1

You will primarily be assessed through coursework, including critical reviews, research proposals and a research project.

Structure

You can complete this programme in one year of full-time study, or over two years part-time. You’ll take three compulsory modules, complete a dissertation and choose an optional module.

Cognitive Neuroscience

Understanding how the brain functions typically and how it is affected by dysfunction presents one of the major challenges for research in the 21st century. As such, there is increasing demand for research training into cognitive processes of the human brain. This module brings together our expert cognitive neuroscience scientists and provides you with the opportunity to examine the scientific study of brain function across a variety of domains – including for example perception, memory, action, and decision making. You’ll also study state-of-the-art cognitive neuroscience research methods, including for example fMRI, EEG, TMS and lesion-symptom mapping etc, and you’ll have the chance to undertake data analysis in practical sessions.

Psychology Lab Skills

This module gives you an introduction to the techniques and software programmes used in psychology data collection and analysis. You will receive guided hands-on experience and acquire skills that you can put to use in your dissertation research. For example, you will use E-Prime software to construct experiments, be given an introduction to MATLAB, and learn about the Qualtrics Survey platform.

Dissertation

Your dissertation is your opportunity to demonstrate your ability to carry out a piece of independent research on a subject of your choosing. It also allows you to go into greater detail in the area that interests you most.

Previous dissertation topics have included:

Facial emotion processing
Motivated thought substitution and thought suppression
Probabilistic learning
Predictive processing in the sensory brain
Effects of social anxiety on attentional bias
Neural basis of autobiographical memories
Conscious and unconscious processing of size constancy
Eye movements and perceptual span during reading in Autism Spectrum Disorder
Object ownership, but not object touch, facilitates novel association formation
The impact of stress on cerebellar related functions
Virtual reality as a method of diagnosis and rehabilitation of spatial neglect in stroke patients

Optional modules

You will choose optional modules to complement your studies and areas of interests. Exact modules offered will vary each year but usually include both quantitative and qualitative research options.

Research placement and professional skills

This optional module brings together our expert researchers and research organisations, along with our Careers Service, so that you gain both advanced practice knowledge and the skills you’ll need to increase your employability. In particular, you’ll have the opportunity to gain hands-on experience and valuable contacts by undertaking a placement in an external setting. Your module leader will help and guide you in your search for a suitable placement organisation. The type of placement is flexible, as long as you’re able to demonstrate that you’ll be utilising your research skills.

Teaching and Learning

Teaching

You’ll experience a wide range of teaching methods throughout the course, including lectures, seminars, workshops, and research placements, and the hands-on use of state-of-the-art research equipment.

Independent study

Your schedule will include timetabled classes, private study, completion of coursework assignments and preparation for sessions. You will also complete a major independent research project under expert supervision.

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Assessment for Year 1

You will primarily be assessed through coursework, including critical reviews, research proposals and a research project.

Compulsory Modules

COGNITIVE NEUROSCIENCE

Code PSY-7010A

Credits 40

Understanding how the brain functions normally and how it is affected by disease presents one of the major challenges for research in the 21st century. There is increasing international demand for research training on cognitive processes in the healthy and diseased human brain. This module brings together UEA expert scientists in Cognitive Neuroscience offering you advanced knowledge of the field. In particular, the module provides you with the opportunity to examine the scientific study of brain function across a variety of cognitive domains (e.g. perception, memory, action) in healthy and clinical populations. Moreover, throughout the module several state-of-the-art cognitive neuroscience research methods will be introduced and examined, including fMRI, EEG, TMS and lesion-symptom mapping, and you will have the chance to work through data analysis in practical sessions. Finally, you will have the opportunity to develop your own research proposal relating to one of the topics covered in the course in consultation with experts in the field.

DISSERTATION

Code PSY-7001X

Credits 80

The dissertation element of the Master’s programme offers you the opportunity to demonstrate your ability to carry out an independent piece of research on a subject of your choice in greater detail than any taught element of the programme can offer. It allows you to develop and display your skills in independent research, and demonstrate your depth of knowledge of a particular area of research. The dissertation should draw from material from other modules within the Master’s programme.

PSYCHOLOGY LAB SKILLS

Code PSY-7015A

Credits 20

This module gives you an introduction to some important techniques and software programs used in psychology data collection and analysis. You will receive guided hands-on experience. These skills are useful for your dissertation research, and will enhance your CV for job applications. You will learn how to conduct both systematic reviews and meta-analysis, gaining an understanding of how each technique can help you in your research. You will use E-Prime software to construct experiments, and have the option to learn MATLAB. MATLAB is a widely used programming language for data analysis, modelling and writing experiments. You will also learn about the Qualtrics Survey platform, presenting data clearly and using references. Your assessment will be essay based.

Optional A Modules

(40 credits)

FURTHER QUALITATIVE RESEARCH

Code PSY-7004B

Credits 20

The course builds on coverage of qualitative methods in the Introduction to Social Sciences Research Methods module, where the focus is on developing critical analysis skills that cover a range of ways of gathering and analysing qualitative data.

FURTHER QUANTITATIVE RESEARCH AND STATISTICS

Code PSY-7005B

Credits 20

This module will provide teaching on quantitative research methods, data analysis and the use of statistical software (SPSS). It will provide a grounding in applied statistics which will both develop critical appraisal skills for reading research and enable you to undertake SPSS data analysis.

RESEARCH PLACEMENT AND PROFESSIONAL SKILLS

Code PSY-7014B

Credits 20

This module brings together UEA expert researchers, host research organisations and the careers service, offering you advanced knowledge of practical field and employability skills. In particular, the module provides the opportunity to gain hands on skills in real life settings. You will gain valuable employment skills and networks for your future career. You will seek placement organisations with Module leader help and guidance. The type of organisation can be flexible as long as you can demonstrate that you are using research skills. Placement admin and coordination takes place within the school.

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Important Information

Whilst the University will make every effort to offer the modules listed, changes may sometimes be made arising from the annual monitoring, review and update of modules. Where this activity leads to significant (but not minor) changes to programmes and their constituent modules, the University will endeavour to consult with students and others. It is also possible that the University may not be able to offer a module for reasons outside of its control, such as the illness of a member of staff. In some cases optional modules can have limited places available and so you may be asked to make additional module choices in the event you do not gain a place on your first choice. Where this is the case, the University will inform students.

MSc COGNITIVE NEUROSCIENCE