NEUROSCIENCE
PROGRAMME

Discussion of basic concepts in psychology and a preliminary survey of representative work carried out in various areas of psychological investigation, together with an investigation at some length of one such area.

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Assessment: 100% coursework

This course covers how humans processinformation from the environment. Topics include various aspects of perception, attention, memory, imagery, language and decision-making. Students will learn from attending lectures and active participation during tutorials. Students will also conduct experiments about cognitive functioning and learn to critically evaluate existing studies in the research literature and to write research reports on experimental findings.

 

Assessment: 100% coursework

Prerequisites: PSYC1001 and PSYC1004

An introduction to sensation and perception with an emphasis on the psychology of seeing. Specific topics include the following: examination of the functional properties of sensory systems (e.g., auditory system, color vision, vestibular system, touch and kinaesthesia); phenomenology of sensation and perception; psychophysical limits of perceptual systems; goals of sensory coding; structure and evolution of sensory systems; theories of perception. Perceptual experiments will be conducted by students in laboratory classes.

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Assessment: 100% coursework

Prerequisite: PSYC1001

This course covers the fundamental principles of neuroscience. Topics include history of neuroscience, neurons and glia, neuronal membrane at rest, action potential, synaptic transmission, neuroanatomy, the somatic sensory system, chemical senses: taste and smell. the auditory system, vision and the eye, vision and the brain, spinal control of movement, brain control of movement, chemical control of the brain and behavior, development in the nervous system, memory systems, learning and memory: molecular biology, emotion and attention. (Priority will be given to students planning to major in neuroscience)

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Assessment: 100% coursework

Prerequisite: PSYC1001

This course is a tutorial-based reading course in specialist areas of cognitive and behavioral neuroscience. It will include group presentations, in the context of organized formal debates, and in-depth group discussions of individual journal articles, providing an opportunity for students to examine critically the neuroscientific approach to understanding mind and behavior. (Priority will be given to students planning to major in neuroscience)

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Assessment: 100% coursework

Prerequisite: PSYC2101

This course complements the first course in this series, Foundations of Neuroscience I, covering the fundamental principles of neuroscience. This second course will familiarise students with principles related to chemical control of the brain (e.g., homeostasis, hypothalamic control, and relevance to behaviour), the autonomic nervous system, and diffuse modulatory systems (e.g., noradrenergic, serotonergic, dopaminergic, and cholinergic regulation). This course will culminate with a series of introductory programming modules to prepare students for advanced research at the undergraduate and graduate levels. Priority will be given to students majoring/minoring in neuroscience.

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Assessment:100% coursework.

Prerequisite: PSYC1001 and PSYC2101

Developmental neuroscience is an interdisciplinary research topic that integrates neuroscience, cognitive science and developmental science. This course aims to uncover the brain and neural mechanisms that underlie social, affective and cognitive development across the life span. Specific topics will include the introduction of theories and methods in developmental neuroscience, neuroplasticity, neural mechanisms that underlie the development of attention and perception processes, motor learning, memory, cognitive control, social-emotional processes. This course will examine these processes at different developmental stages, including infants, toddlers, adolescence and ageing population. This course will also cover the neural mechanisms underlying atypical development such as the Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).

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Assessment: 70% coursework, 30% examination

Prerequisite: PSYC2101

Human behavior is generated by complex psychophysiological mechanisms of the brain. This course is designed to provide a broad introduction to the biological basis of stress, emotion, and regulation of cognitive-affective processes affecting psychological health. The neurobiological basis of psychopathologies e.g. depression, anxiety, will be examined as examples to demonstrate the complex relationships between brain, behavior, and psychopathology.

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Assessment: 100% coursework

Prerequisite: PSYC1001

(For neuroscience major) Students will have an opportunity to learn to do research as an intern in ongoing empirical research projects under a teacher’s supervision in the Department of Psychology. Students spend 10-12 hours per week assisting various research activities. The internship includes participating in lab meetings or meeting individually with the supervisor, reading relevant theoretical and empirical articles, assisting in ongoing empirical research projects, and writing an internship report. Information about research projects offering internship placements and application procedure will be available in the Psychology Department webpage.

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Assessment: 100% coursework

Prerequisite: PSYC2101

Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI) is widely used to study brain functions. This course is designed to provide a general introduction to the physical and physiological bases and principles of fMRI, MRI related safety issues, and design and analysis of fMRI experiments.

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Assessment: 100% coursework

Prerequisite: PSYC1001 and PSYC1004

This course introduces basic principles of brain-behaviour relationships. Research methods for investigating brain-behavior relationships are reviewed. The neuro-anatomical and neuropsychological mechanisms underpinning various cognitive and affective processes as well as how these processes are dysregulated in some common brain disorders are discussed. Students will participate in an independent empirical research project. Priority will be given to UG students majoring in psychology and neuroscience.

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Assessment: 100% coursework

Prerequisites: Either PSYC2101 or PSYC2022

This advanced seminar course reviews findings from both recent and classical research on human perceptual systems. Modules will consider in-depth, select special topics such as cross-modal perceptual interactions, lessons from abnormal perception in agnosia, amblyopia, etc. Modules will be discussed from a multidisciplinary standpoint, integrating computational, psychophysical and neurobiological approaches. Priority will be given to UG students majoring in psychology and neuroscience.

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Assessment: 100% coursework

Prerequisites: PSYC1004 and PSYC2051

This course covers some of the more recent developments in cognitive psychology. Students will learn about current issues in cognitive psychology by reading research articles. Topics may include consciousness, mental representations of objects/faces/letters, language, memory and decision making, as well as other topics reflecting the interests of the teacher. Students will each do an independent empirical research project. Priority will be given to UG students majoring in psychology.

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Assessment: 100% coursework

Prerequisites: PSYC1004 and either PSYC2007 or PSYC2051.

(For neuroscience major) Students will each conduct an independent empirical research project. Regular attendance for research supervision is required. The project write-up should be about 6,000 to 10,000 words (exclusive of tables, bibliographies and appendices).

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Assessment: 100% coursework

Prerequisites: PSYC1001 and PSYC1004 and PSYC2060 and PSYC2101

This course comprises an independent research study in an area of neuroscience of the candidates' choice, subject to availability of supervision. Students will read within an area of study, to be agreed with their instructor, and write an extended essay or research proposal.

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Assessment: 100% coursework

Prerequisite: PSYC2101