PSYC3914: Semester 2, 2020

University home

Library

Current students

Staff intranet

Find an event

Give

Current students

Units PSYC3914 Semester 2 2020 [Normal day]

Unit outline_

PSYC3914: Behavioural and Cognitive Neuroscience Adv

Semester 2, 2020 [Normal day] - Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney

Overview

This unit of study will focus on approaches to studying neurosciences incorporating molecular, pre-clinical and clinical models of brain function. These biological models of brain function will be linked with behavioural, affective and cognitive function and dysfunction. Specific topics to be covered will be selected from the following areas: sensorimotor integration, and the neural and molecular basis of learning and memory, attention, language, visual cognition and praxis. The lecture material will be the same as for PSYC3014, however, the practical class is targeted for those who would like to learn more about the experimental study of behaviour and the neurosciences. The practical component of the advanced stream will cover basic neuroanatomy, histology and neuropharmacology and will introduce students to experimental approaches to studying brain-behaviour relationships.

Unit details and rules

Academic unit	Psychology Academic Operations
Credit points	6
Prerequisites ?	[A mark of 75 or above in (PSYC2010 or PSYC2910 or PSYC2011 or PSYC2911 or PSYC2015 or PSYC2915) and 6 credit points from (PSYC2012 or PSYC2013 or PSYC2014 or PSYC2016 or PSYC2017)] OR [A mark of 75 or above in (PSYC2010 or PSYC2910 or PSYC2011 or PSYC2911 or PSYC2015 or PSYC2915) and (ANAT2010 or ANAT2910 or MEDS2005)]
Corequisites ?	None
Prohibitions ?	PSYC3014
Assumed knowledge ?	None
Available to study abroad and exchange students	Yes

Teaching staff

Coordinator	Tom Carlson, thomas.carlson@sydney.edu.au
Lecturer(s)	Alex Holcombe, alex.holcombe@sydney.edu.au
	Irina Harris, irina.harris@sydney.edu.au
	Justin Harris, justin.harris@sydney.edu.au
Tutor(s)	Oscar Kovacs, okov3082@sydney.edu.au
	Ingrid van Tongeren, ingrid.vantongeren@sydney.edu.au
	Alex Sulfaro, alexander.sulfaro@sydney.edu.au

Type	Description	Weight	Due	Length
Final exam (Take-home extended release)	Final Exam Short answer questions	50%	Formal exam period	48 hours
Outcomes assessed:
Participation	Participation Group discussion	5%	Ongoing	Variable
Outcomes assessed:
Tutorial quiz	Tutorial quiz 1 MC Quiz	5%	Week 05	30min
Outcomes assessed:
Assignment	Research report	30%	Week 08	2500 words
Outcomes assessed:
Tutorial quiz	Tutorial quiz 2 MC Quiz	5%	Week 09	30min
Outcomes assessed:
Tutorial quiz	Tutorial quiz 3 MC Quiz	5%	Week 12	30min
Outcomes assessed:
= Type E final exam ?

Assessment summary

Research report: Report is based on an experiment we will run in tutorials in Week 2. If you are unable to attend your regular
tutorial in that week, please arrange to go to a different tutorial so you can participate in the experiment.
Tutorial quizzes: Assessing the tutorial and lecture material
covered to that point. Each quiz is worth 5%. If you are unable to attend your regular tutorial, plan to attend a different tutorial in those weeks to sit the quiz. The quizzes are not compulsory, and there is no alternative assessment.
Particpation: Participation in class discussions throughout the semester.
Examination: This will be a combination of multiple-choice questions and short answer questions. The exam assesses your knowledge of materials covered in lectures and readings set by the lecturing staff.

Detailed information for each assessment can be found on Canvas.

Assessment criteria

The University awards common result grades, set out in the Coursework Policy 2014 (Schedule 1).

As a general guide, a high distinction indicates work of an exceptional standard, a distinction a very high standard, a credit a good standard, and a pass an acceptable standard.

For more information see guide to grades.

Late submission

In accordance with University policy, these penalties apply when written work is submitted after 11:59pm on the due date:

Deduction of 5% of the maximum mark for each calendar day after the due date.
After ten calendar days late, a mark of zero will be awarded.

Academic integrity

The Current Student website provides information on academic integrity and the resources available to all students. The University expects students and staff to act ethically and honestly and will treat all allegations of academic integrity breaches seriously.

We use similarity detection software to detect potential instances of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breach. If such matches indicate evidence of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breaches, your teacher is required to report your work for further investigation.

Use of generative artificial intelligence (AI) and automated writing tools

You may only use generative AI and automated writing tools in assessment tasks if you are permitted to by your unit coordinator. If you do use these tools, you must acknowledge this in your work, either in a footnote or an acknowledgement section. The assessment instructions or unit outline will give guidance of the types of tools that are permitted and how the tools should be used.

Your final submitted work must be your own, original work. You must acknowledge any use of generative AI tools that have been used in the assessment, and any material that forms part of your submission must be appropriately referenced. For guidance on how to acknowledge the use of AI, please refer to the AI in Education Canvas site.

The unapproved use of these tools or unacknowledged use will be considered a breach of the Academic Integrity Policy and penalties may apply.

Studiosity is permitted unless otherwise indicated by the unit coordinator. The use of this service must be acknowledged in your submission as detailed on the Learning Hub’s Canvas page.

Outside assessment tasks, generative AI tools may be used to support your learning. The AI in Education Canvas site contains a number of productive ways that students are using AI to improve their learning.

Learning support

Simple extensions

If you encounter a problem submitting your work on time, you may be able to apply for an extension of five calendar days through a simple extension.  The application process will be different depending on the type of assessment and extensions cannot be granted for some assessment types like exams.

Special consideration

If exceptional circumstances mean you can’t complete an assessment, you need consideration for a longer period of time, or if you have essential commitments which impact your performance in an assessment, you may be eligible for special consideration or special arrangements.

Special consideration applications will not be affected by a simple extension application.

Using AI responsibly

Co-created with students, AI in Education includes lots of helpful examples of how students use generative AI tools to support their learning. It explains how generative AI works, the different tools available and how to use them responsibly and productively.

Weekly schedule

WK	Topic	Learning activity
Week 01	Introduction	Online class (1 hr)
Week 01	Measuring the brain: direct approaches	Online class (1 hr)
Week 02	Measuring the brain: indirect approaches	Online class (1 hr)
	The brain as an information processing system	Online class (1 hr)
	Being a scientist	Tutorial (2 hr)
Week 03	Cortical organisation: maps and modules	Online class (1 hr)
	Rhythms in the brain	Online class (1 hr)
	Functional specialisation + EEG lab tour	Tutorial (2 hr)
Week 04	Sleep	Online class (1 hr)
	High level visual processing 1	Online class (1 hr)
	Sleep and sleep disorders	Tutorial (2 hr)
Week 05	High level visual processing 2	Online class (1 hr)
	Episodic memory and amnesia 1	Online class (1 hr)
	Quiz + TMS lab tour	Tutorial (2 hr)
Week 06	Episodic memory and amnesia 2	Online class (1 hr)
	Semantic memory	Online class (1 hr)
	Neural coding: exploring representational spaces	Tutorial (2 hr)
Week 07	Language	Online class (2 hr)
Week 07	Lifespan, development, and cortical thickness. Optional neuroanatomy (in the Anatomy lab)	Tutorial (2 hr)
Week 08	Dementia: clinical syndromes	Online class (1 hr)
	Brain and computers 1	Online class (1 hr)
	Project Presentations	Tutorial (2 hr)
Week 09	Brain and computers 2	Online class (1 hr)
	Space and the parietal lobe 1	Online class (1 hr)
	Quiz 2 + Treatment of epilepsy	Tutorial (2 hr)
Week 10	Space and the parietal lobe 2	Online class (1 hr)
	Neurobiology of learning and memory 1	Online class (1 hr)
	Stimulating lil' brains	Tutorial (2 hr)
Week 11	Neurobiology of learning and memory 2	Online class (1 hr)
	Movement and motor control 1	Online class (1 hr)
	Neuropathologies and resting state brain activity	Tutorial (2 hr)
Week 12	Movement and motor control 2	Online class (1 hr)
	Biological bases of dementias	Online class (1 hr)
	Quiz 3 -- No tutorial	Tutorial (0.5 hr)

Attendance and class requirements

Attendance: 80% tutorial attendance is required, the roll will be marked and there is a participation assessment component.

Study commitment

Typically, there is a minimum expectation of 1.5-2 hours of student effort per week per credit point for units of study offered over a full semester. For a 6 credit point unit, this equates to roughly 120-150 hours of student effort in total.

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes are what students know, understand and are able to do on completion of a unit of study. They are aligned with the University's graduate qualities and are assessed as part of the curriculum.

Outcomes
Graduate qualities

At the completion of this unit, you should be able to:

LO1. demonstrate basic knowledge and understanding of major concepts, theoretical perspectives, empirical findings, and historical trends in behavioural and cognitive neuroscience
LO2. develop an awareness of the applications of the theories and research findings in learning, memory, language, perception and action, computational modeling and sleep.
LO3. understand, apply and evaluate basic research methods in behavioural and cognitive neuroscience, including design of laboratory and clinical research, data collection, analysis and interpretation, literature searches and review. Demonstrate an understanding of technologies used to study brain function and activity.
LO4. demonstrate critical and creative thinking, skeptical inquiry, and the scientific approach to solve problems related to the neuroscientific bases of behaviour. Develop ability to identify and evaluate the purposes, research questions, data, perspectives, inferences, concepts, implications and assumptions associated with research presented during the course.
LO5. value empirical evidence; tolerate ambiguity during the search for greater understanding of behaviour and knowledge structures.
LO6. use information in an ethical manner, be able to recognise and promote ethical practice in research and clinical interventions and respect diversity associated with cognitive and neurological disorders.
LO7. demonstrate sound communication skills in behavioural and cognitive neuroscience, including i) writing effectively in a variety of formats and for a variety of purposes; (ii) effective oral communication skills in various formats and for various purposes; (iii) collaborating effectively in a group to complete projects.

Graduate qualities

The graduate qualities are the qualities and skills that all University of Sydney graduates must demonstrate on successful completion of an award course. As a future Sydney graduate, the set of qualities have been designed to equip you for the contemporary world.

GQ1	Depth of disciplinary expertise Deep disciplinary expertise is the ability to integrate and rigorously apply knowledge, understanding and skills of a recognised discipline defined by scholarly activity, as well as familiarity with evolving practice of the discipline.
GQ2	Critical thinking and problem solving Critical thinking and problem solving are the questioning of ideas, evidence and assumptions in order to propose and evaluate hypotheses or alternative arguments before formulating a conclusion or a solution to an identified problem.
GQ3	Oral and written communication Effective communication, in both oral and written form, is the clear exchange of meaning in a manner that is appropriate to audience and context.
GQ4	Information and digital literacy Information and digital literacy is the ability to locate, interpret, evaluate, manage, adapt, integrate, create and convey information using appropriate resources, tools and strategies.
GQ5	Inventiveness Generating novel ideas and solutions.
GQ6	Cultural competence Cultural Competence is the ability to actively, ethically, respectfully, and successfully engage across and between cultures. In the Australian context, this includes and celebrates Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, knowledge systems, and a mature understanding of contemporary issues.
GQ7	Interdisciplinary effectiveness Interdisciplinary effectiveness is the integration and synthesis of multiple viewpoints and practices, working effectively across disciplinary boundaries.
GQ8	Integrated professional, ethical, and personal identity An integrated professional, ethical and personal identity is understanding the interaction between one’s personal and professional selves in an ethical context.
GQ9	Influence Engaging others in a process, idea or vision.

Outcome map

Learning outcomes	Graduate qualities
Learning outcomes

Responding to student feedback

This section outlines changes made to this unit following staff and student reviews.

No changes have been made since this unit was last offered

Additional information

Work, health and safety

We are governed by the Work Health and Safety Act 2011, Work Health and Safety Regulation 2011 and Codes of Practice. Penalties for non-compliance have increased. Everyone has a responsibility for health and safety at work. The University’s Work Health and Safety policy explains the responsibilities and expectations of workers and others, and the procedures for managing WHS risks associated with University activities.

General Laboratory Safety Rules

No eating or drinking is allowed in any laboratory under any circumstances
A laboratory coat and closed-toe shoes are mandatory
Follow safety instructions in your manual and posted in laboratories
In case of fire, follow instructions posted outside the laboratory door
First aid kits, eye wash and fire extinguishers are located in or immediately outside each laboratory
As a precautionary measure, it is recommended that you have a current tetanus immunisation. This can be obtained from University Health Service: unihealth.usyd.edu.au/

Disclaimer

The University reserves the right to amend units of study or no longer offer certain units, including where there are low enrolment numbers.

To help you understand common terms that we use at the University, we offer an online glossary.

Current students

Overview

Overview

Unit details and rules

Teaching staff

Assessment

Assessment

Assessment summary

Assessment criteria

Late submission

Academic integrity

Learning support

Learning support

Simple extensions

Special consideration

Using AI responsibly

Weekly schedule

Weekly schedule

Attendance and class requirements

Study commitment

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes

Graduate qualities

Outcome map

Responding to student feedback

Responding to student feedback

Additional information

Additional information

Work, health and safety

Disclaimer

On this page

Useful links

Media

Student links

About us

Connect