Postgraduate Programme in Human Cognition and Evolution (Doctoral Programme)

SUBJECT DESCRIPTION

Details

Subject

Name of subject: High Spatial Resolution (HSR) Exploration of Cognitive Processes

Code: 10059

Teaching staff

Professor in charge

Name: Antoni Rodríguez-Fornells Contact:

Substitute

Nombre: Marcos Ríos Lago Contact:

Number of credits: 5

Contact hours: 10 hours of work in class. 20 hours of virtual class.

Independent study hours: 95

Aims

l  Experimental designs with fMRI and analysis.

l  Application of fMRI techniques to the study of basic processes of language and memory.

l  Application of fMRI techniques to the study of executive functions.

l  Relationship of fMRI to other neuroimaging techniques.

Content

1. Experimental design with fMRI: block and evoked potential designs.

2. Data analysis. sequence of phases of data processing.

3. fMRI studies applied to language.

4. fMRi studies applied to memory.

5. fMRi studies applied to executive functions.

6. Other MRI techniques.

7. Integration of fMRI to other neuroimaging techniques.

8. Future perspectives in the field.

Methodology

Subject aims / Learning methods / Type of group / Independent study hours / Contact hours
Experimental designs with fMRI and analysis. / Recommended reading, presentation and commentary in class. / Independent reading and presentation and commentaries in whole group. / 25 / 5
Application of fMRI techniques to the study of basic processes of language and memory. / Recommended reading, presentation and commentary in class. / Independent reading and presentation and commentaries in whole group. / 40 / 10
Application of fMRI techniques to the study of executive functions. / Recommended reading, presentation and commentary in class. / Independent reading and presentation and commentaries in whole group. / 40 / 10
Relationship of fMRI to other neuroimaging techniques. / Recommended reading, presentation and commentary in class. / Independent reading and presentation and commentaries in whole group. / 20 / 5

Assessment criteria and instruments

Assessment criteria:

l  Appropriate understanding of the most important theoretical viewpoints and questions in the area.

l  Assimilation of knowledge.

Assessment instruments:

l  Presentation of the design of an experiment.

l  Multiple choice exam.

Assessment criteria:

l  50% for each element.

Bibliography, resources and appendices

Brett, M, Johnsrude, I.S., & Owen, A.M. (2002). The problem of functional localization in the human brian. Nature Reviews. Neuroscience, 3, 243-249.

Christoff, K & Owen A.M. (2006). Improving reverse neuroimaging inference: cognitive domain versus cognitive complexity. Trends in Cognitive Sciences, 10 (8), 352-353.

D’Esposito, M (2006). Cognitive Neuroscience Applications. En S.H. Faro & F.B. Mohamed (eds.), Functional MRI. Basic Principles and Clinical Applications (pp. 468-495). Springer New York.

Logothetis, NK. (2002). The neural basis of the blood-oxigen-level dependent functional magnetic resonante imaging signal. Philosophical Trans. R. Soc. Lond. B, 357, 1003-1037.

Poldrack, R.A. & Wagner A.D. (2004). What Can Neuroimaging Tell Us About the Mind? Current Directions in Psychological Science, 13 (5), 177-181.

Raichle, M.E. (1998). Behind the scnes of functional brain imaging:A historical and physiological perspective. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 95, 765-772.

Scott A. Huettel, Allen W. Song, & Gregory McCarthy (2004). Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging. Sinauer Associates, Inc.