Advanced Neuropsychology, 7.5 Credits

Contents

The course includes advanced knowledge in neuropsychology, regarding both typical functioning and in clinical populations. The topics covered include biological bases of behavior, memory, emotion, processes of typical and atypical brain development, brain plasticity and mental health conditions. Additionally, it gives an overview of different brain imaging techniques and other neuropsychological assessment methods.  

Scheduled teaching is based on seminars in which students prepare oral presentations on pre-defined themes. Presentations are discussed in class with feedback from the designated teacher. Moreover, students take online quizzes on neuroanatomy and neuropsychology towards completion of the course.  

The in-depth project can either be written as a structured review paper or as a research proposal in neuropsychology. Topics for individual in-depth projects are decided together with supervisors. 

Expected learning outcomes

After the course, the student will be able to: 

Knowledge and understanding 

• account for and interpret the overall brain anatomical, structural and functional subsystems and related behaviour 
• describe key principles of plasticity in the normal brain 
• account for strengths and limitations of contemporary brain imaging techniques 
• account for and describe neuropsychological assessment methods and techniques, and the information they generate 

Skills and ability 

• identify and describe structures of the nervous system from anatomical models, 
• discuss and explain relations between the higher central nervous functions that determine our behavioral repertoire, 
• describe differences between congenital and acquired brain disorders throughout the lifespan and the major risks factors for atypical brain development.  
• describe, present, and discuss in an elaborated and reflecting manner, a well-defined neuropsychological phenomenon or atypical condition(s) from a theoretical and empirical grounded psychobiological/neuropsychological perspective. 

Evaluation ability and approach 

• demonstrate the ability to make neuropsychological research valuations, taking into account relevant neuropsychological, biological, environmental and ethical aspects, 
• demonstrate understanding of the importance of neuropsychological knowledge on the subject of human development and changes throughout the lifespan,   
• demonstrate the ability to identify the need for further understandings and to develop expertise in specific neuropsychological topics. 

Required Knowledge

90 ECTS in psychology, medicine or equivalent
Proficiency in English equivalent to Swedish upper secondary course English 6/level 2

Form of instruction

The teaching forms include seminars, supervisions, and lab demonstrations. 

The course includes four compulsory seminars (occasions) where the student orally presents topics on given themes, as well as a final seminar where the students present a written in-depth project. The seminars include discussion, critical reflections and feedback on the other classmates' seminar presentations/and in-depth papers. The teacher in charge of each respective seminar will give feedback on oral and written assignments and may request completions towards meeting examination requirements. 

The right to receive teaching and supervision applies only during the time the course, for which the student is registered to, is ongoing.

Examination modes

The examination consists of online quizzes on neuroanatomical structure and neuropsychology  which can be taken any number of times within the span of the course until a criteria performance is reached. Moreover, written hand-outs connected to the seminar presentations, active participation at the seminars including own oral presentation and feedback to classmates constitute examinations. Finally, a written and oral presentation of the in-depth project work, as well as active project presentation participation including written and or oral feedback on classmate project presentations is mandatory. 

The occurrence of examination and mandatory assignments are specified in the schedule. Grades for the course and/or its respective examinations are made when all examinations and mandatory assignments have been successfully completed.  

The course will be graded as Pass (G), Pass with Distinction (VG), or Fail (U).  

For Pass (G), the student needs to fulfill Pass level for all oral seminar presentations, written hand-outs, a Pass level on the neuroanatomical and neuropsychological quizzes, a Pass on the written in-depth project as well as Pass on the oral presentation and active participation at the examining seminar for the project presentation. For Pass with Distinction (VG), the student additionally needs to meet Pass with Distinction level at the seminars as well as Pass with Distinction grade at the oral and written in-depth project report. 

Students are entitled to 5 examinations. For students who have not passed the regular examination, additional examination opportunities will be arranged in accordance with the University's Regulations for Grading and Examination, FS 1.1-574-22. A student who has failed an examination twice for a course or part of a course has the right to request a different examiner, unless there are specific reasons against it (HF Chapter 6, Section 22). Requests for a new examiner should be addressed to the Head of the Department of Psychology. Students have the right to be examined under the same syllabus as the original examination at least twice within two years after their initial registration. 

The provisions of the Discrimination Act (2008:567) include requirements for universities to offer the possibility of adapted examinations or alternative forms of examination. Deviations from the syllabus's examination form may be made for a student with a decision for pedagogical support due to a disability. 

The examiner may decide on deviations from the syllabus's examination form. Individual adjustments to the examination form must be considered based on the student's needs. The examination form is adapted within the framework of the course's expected learning outcomes. A student requiring an adapted examination must request the adjustment from the responsible department no later than 10 work days before the examination. The examiner decides on the adapted examination, and this decision is communicated to the student. 

Other regulations

This course cannot be included in the same degree as Advanced Neuropsychology, 15 credits.