School of Psychology College of Life Sciences and Medicine

MSc Social Cognitive Neuroscience

Course overview

This interdisciplinary degree programme is based in the School of Psychology at the University of Aberdeen. The course is co-ordinated by Professor Neil Macrae and Dr David Turk. Social cognitive neuroscience utilises the complementary insights and approaches of neuroscience and social science to explore the social and emotional components of human behaviour.

Background

Aim

This course would provide an excellent platform for those students wanting to pursue a career or further study in the area of social or cognitive neuroscience.

Objectives

This Masters level programme has been designed to provide a sound theoretical and practical background to the principles and applications of social cognitive neuroscience. This includes computer programming, brain imaging analysis, social cognition and social cognitive neuroscience, and human neuroanatomy. These skills will aid students in undertaking a detailed research project in a single area of social cognitive neuroscience selected from a range of topics offered by faculty members.

Learning outcomes

By the end of this programme, students should be able to:

1  Demonstrate an understanding of structure-function relations in the brain.

2  Design and create experimental software capable of presenting various stimuli and recording subject responses along with neuroimaging signals

3  Conduct and analyze electrophysiological and fMRI experiments.

4  Understand key issues social cognitive neuroscience.

5  Carry out an independent research project utilising social cognitive neuroscience methods, and present the findings to others.

How to apply Apply online at:

www.abdn.ac.uk/sras/postgraduate/apply

For further information, please contact

Ms Dana Ho School of Psychology College of Life Sciences and Medicine William Guild Building University of Aberdeen Aberdeen AB24 2UB Tel:+44 (0)1224 273645 Email:dana.ho@abdn.ac.uk

Course Coordinator

Professor Neil Macrae School of Psychology College of Life Sciences and Medicine William Guild Building University of Aberdeen Aberdeen AB24 2UB Tel:+44 (0)1224 272245 Email: c.n.macrae@abdn.ac.uk

Content

The MSc comprises taught and research modules which include an introduction to human anatomy, fMRI and ERP methods, theoretical perspectives in social cognitive neuroscience, and computer programming for research purposes.

In addition students will also get hands-on experience of data processing in the two most common forms of functional imaging (ERP and fMRI). This experience can then be used to analyse students own data on related research projects.

Costs

Full-time fees for academic year 2010/11:

UK/EU students £3,400 International (non-EU) students £11,800

Students may also apply for a competitive bursary award from the College of Life Science and Medicine.

Length

The course will be taught on a full-time basis, over one year.

Teaching venues

The course will be based in School of Psychology, William Guild Building (below), King’s College Campus. Classes will also take place in the Institute of Medical Sciences Building, Foresterhill Campus and Aberdeen Royal Infirmary fMRI Centre.

Assessment

The MSc is is awarded on the basis of continuous assessment of coursework, essays, critical reviews, group work and presentations. The research project is assessed by dissertation and viva exam. Award of the MSc degree requires successful completion of the taught modules and research dissertation.

Entry requirements

Entry to the course is restricted to those with the equivalent of an upper second class degree in Psychology or related discipline.

Research Project

Students will complete an individual research project with an academic supervisor on a topic relevant Social Cognitive Neuroscience.

“Theteachingstaffwerealwayswillingtohelpandencouragedmethroughouttheyear”.

TheCourse

For a PG certificate (PgCert) in Social Cognitive Neuroscience (60 credits) Unit 1

AN 4002 Brain Function and Malfunction (15 credits) PS 5003 Research Methods in Social Cognitive Neuroscience A (30 credits) PS 5004 Experimental Programming for Social Cognitive Neuroscience (15 credits)

For a PG diploma (PgDip) in Social Cognitive Neuroscience (120 credits)

Unit 2

Students must gain the 60 credit points available under the PgCert plus an additional 60 credits from:

PS 5503 Research Methods in Social Cognitive Neuroscience B (30 credits) PS 5504 Theoretical Perspectives in Social Cognitive Neuroscience (20 credits) PS 5505 Research Project Outline (10 credits)

Unit 3

PS 5900 Thesis in Social Cognitive Neuroscience (60 credits)

Current projects have included fMRI studies of gender stereotyping, assessing social cognitive profiles in traumatic brain injury, and mapping eye movements to social scenes in patient populations.

Faculty biographies

Neil Macrae is a Professor in the School of Psychology. He is world leader in Social Cognitive Neuroscience, particularly in the use of fMRI techniques to explore the neural basis of social cognition.

David Turk is a Senior Lecture in Cognitive Neuroscience in the School of Psychology. His interests are in the neural mechansims that support self-referential encoding and memory.

Rachel Swainson is a Lecturer in the School of Psychology. She is an expert in the use of electrophysiological techniques in the study of Human cognition.

Gordon Waiter is a Senior Lecture in the Department of Radiology. His expertise surrounds the use of functional magnetic resonance imaging.

Jim Urquhart teaches our computer programming module. This course is aimed to provide students with some experience of programming and how it can be used in social cognitive neuroscience.

Dr. Bettina Platt is a Reader in the School of Medical Sciences. She teaches on the anatomy module of the MSc. course.

In addition, other faculty members in the School of Psychology act as supervisors on research projects.

The course is made up of three units. Students must pass each unit in order to progress to the next. Students awarded 60 credits points can exit with a PG Certificate. Those who gain 120 credit points can exit with a PG Diploma, but only those with 180 credit points can graduate with a MSc award.

ProgrammeInforma?on

Module Details

AN4002 – Anatomy Dr. Bettina Platt

15 credits

This module is designed to provide students with a basic understanding of key anatomical regions and their functional significance.

The course will contain lectures, seminars, practical classes and a brain dissection session. It is assessed by coursework and one written examination.

PS5003– Research Methods A (ERP) Dr. Rachel Swainson

30 credits

This module provides students with a theoretical and practical understanding of electrophysiological research methods. Students will as part of this course be taught how to process and analyze ERP datasets.

The course will contain lectures, and practical sessions. It is assessed by satisfactory completion of coursework.

PS5504 – Theoretical Perspectives in Social Cognitive Neuroscience

Prof Neil Macrae 20 credits

This seminar course engages students in a discussion of the theoretical and practical issues surrounding research in social cognitive neuroscience.

It is assessed by the satisfactory completion of coursework.

PS 5004– Experimental Programming for Social Cognitive Neuroscience

Jim Urquhart 15 credits

This module is designed to provide students with basic skills in programming experiments in social cognitive neuroscience. This will include data extraction and interfacing with functional imaging tools.

The course will contain lectures and practical classes. It is assessed by the satisfactory completion of coursework.

PS5503– Research Methods B (fMRI) Dr. Gordon Waiter

30 credits

This module provides students with a theoretical and practical understanding of functional magnetic imaging research methods. Students will as part of this course be taught how to process and analyze fMRIdatasets.

The course will contain lectures, and practical sessions. It is assessed by satisfactory completion of coursework.

PS5505 – Research Project Outline in Social Cognitive Neuroscience

Project Supervisor 10 credits

This module is undertaken by students and their project supervisors. It is designed to provide students with a details background to their own research project.

It is assessed by the satisfactory completion of coursework.

PS5900 – Research Thesis in Social Cognitive Neuroscience

Project Supervisor 60 credits

This module is undertaken by students and their project supervisors. It requires a prolonged period of study in the students chosen project area.

It is assessed by the satisfactory completion of of a research dissertation, a poster presentation, and a viva exam.

Generic Skills Component Various Faculty

In addition to these core modules, students will also attend generic skills sessions on topics such as grant writing, web page design, disseminating research, ethical issues, and thesis writing. Students are also expected to attend other School Research Seminars and give Psycholoquia presentations.

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PAGE SEVEN

Photograph of King’s College Chapel by Ian Cowe

How to get to Aberdeen

TrainRail services connect Aberdeen both north and south. There are regular direct trains to London and servicesfrom Edinburgh and Glasgow link with other mainline routes. Inverness, the scenic West Coast and theHighlands are reached northwards. Services are run by First Scotrail, National Express East Coast, andCrosscountry. See www.thetrainline.com for details of timetables and fares.

AirAberdeen’s international airport is served by a number of major carriers (BA, BMI, Eastern, Flybe, Ryanair, AirFrance) providing an extensive network of routes throughout the UK, direct to Europe and worldwide throughmajor hubs. British destinations include three London airports (Heathrow, Gatwick and Luton), Manchester,Newcastle, Birmingham, Bristol and Norwich, Exeter, Southampton, East Midlands, as well as the ScottishHighlands and Islands. Major continental destinations include Amsterdam, Paris, Dublin, Copenhagen andStavanger. The airport is situated a few miles north of the city centre. Taxis are available outside the terminalbuilding and cost approximately £15 to King’s College campus.

RoadThe main traffic routes into Aberdeen are the A90 from the South and the A96 from the North. Roads south toEdinburgh and Glasgow and onward carry fast coach services linking Aberdeen with the UK’s major cities.Coach services are provides by Citylink and Megabus.

See www.abdn.ac.uk/central/vcampus/ for up to date information and detailed maps.

City of Aberdeen Basic Road Map ABERDEEN

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B: Foresterhill: This is where the hospitaland medical school are situated.

C: City Centre with shops, restaurants,and leisure facilities, plus the train andbus stations.