Cognitive neuroscience is an interdisciplinary field that investigates the neural mechanisms underlying human cognitive functions, integrating diverse disciplines such as psychology, neurology, life sciences, computer science, mathematics, and chemistry. Through this course, you will learn about the structural and functional mechanisms of the brain related to perception, consciousness, memory, attention, language, decision-making, and emotion. Additionally, you will acquire various research methodologies in cognitive neuroscience—including experimental studies, neuroimaging techniques, and computational modeling—and develop the ability to critically analyze the latest research findings.

Background knowledge from introductory psychology courses (e.g., Introduction to Psychology: Mind, Brain, and Behavior) or Cognitive Psychology would be beneficial for this course.

TBA

Week 1: Course Introduction & Introducing Cognitive Neuroscience
Week 2: Introducing the Brain
Week 3: The Electrophysiological Brain
Week 4: The Imaged Brain
Week 5: The Lesioned Brain and Stimulated Brain
Week 6: The Developing Brain
Week 7: The Seeing Brain & The Hearing Brain
Week 8: Midterm Exam (No Class)
Week 9: The Attending Brain
Week 10: The Acting Brain
Week 11: The Remembering Brain
Week 12: The Speaking Brain & The Literate Brain
Week 13: The Numerate Brain
Week 14: The Executive Brain
Week 15: The Social and Emotional Brain
Week 16: Final Exam (No Class)

Absence Allowance:Up to 2 absences are permitted without any point deductions.
Deductions:Once the 2 allowed absences are used, each subsequent absence results in a 1-point deduction.
Tardiness:Three instances of tardiness (15+ minutes late) count as 1 absence. Arriving more than 30 minutes late will be automatically marked as an absence.
Excused Absences:Absences due to medical reasons or official duties may be excused, provided that a notification email is sent in advance and supporting documentation is submitted afterward.
Failure (F):Accumulating 5 or more absences will automatically result in an F grade.
Note: Attendance tracking officially begins in the second week of the semester.

Exams (50%)
Format:Exams consist of multiple-choice and short-answer questions.
Missed Exams:Students unable to take an exam due to personal circumstances must obtain prior approval from the professor and submit supporting documentation afterward.

Research Report (20%)
Task:Select a recent research paper related to the topics covered in class. Submit a written report analyzing the theoretical background, research objectives, methods, results, interpretations, limitations, and future directions.

Presentation (10%)
Task:Deliver a 5 to 10-minute presentation based on your research report.

Participation/Questions (10%)
Requirement:Post questions related to the course content on the PLMS discussion board. A minimum of 5 questions must be posted throughout the semester.
Rules:Only 1 question is permitted per class session. Questions that lack academic substance or specificity (e.g., "I'm curious about functional brain connectivity.") will not be counted.