UE289 - Introduction to Cognitive Neurosciences [NEURO 101]

Intervenant·e·s

• Quentin Gaucher [référent·e]   contrat postdoctoral, ENS
• Claire Sergent   professeure des universités, Université de Paris

The aim of this course is to give basic knowledge in neurosciences to students in cognitive sciences that do not have a background in biology. The course is divided into 3 themes: descriptive and functional human neuroanatomy, cellular neuroscience, and cognitive functions of the brain. During the lectures, students will become familiar with the neuroanatomical nomenclature, as well as current knowledge about the neural mechanisms underlying cognitive functions such as perception, memory or executive functions, spanning different scales from the neuron to the network. As this course is directed towards students from very diverse backgrounds, discussions are strongly encouraged during the lectures.

Le but de ce cours est d’apporter les connaissances de base dans le domaine des neurosciences aux étudiants en sciences cognitives n’ayant pas une formation initiale en biologie. Le cours aborde principalement trois thèmes: neuroanatomie humaine descriptive et fonctionnelle, neurosciences cellulaires et fonctions cognitives. Durant les cours, les étudiants deviendront familiers avec la nomenclature neuroanatomique, et la description des mécanismes neuronaux qui sous-tendent les grandes fonctions du système nerveux central tel que la perception, la mémoire, les fonctions exécutives, à différentes échelle du neurone au réseau. Ce cours étant conçu pour des étudiant(e)s provenant d’horizons très divers, les discussions autour des thématiques et concepts présentés en cours seront fortement encouragées. 

Prerequisites:

This introductory class is open to students with various backgrounds. It is its particular focus to bring them towards a common basis of knowledge in cognitive neurosciences.

The three main objectives of the courses are to help students 

• Possess an overview of current knowledge about (human) neuroscience relevant for cognitive sciences (and possess reference documents relating to this topic that they can consult in the future)
• Understand how to bridge different levels of description from the molecular/cellular level to the psychological level
• Possess basic knowledge of the techniques and logic of investigation in neuroscience : from histological staining to electrophysiological recording and brain imaging

 Upon successful completion of the course the student will be able to :

• Read the cognitive neuroscience literature with the adequate critical baggage
• Orient to the relevant information in the neuroscience literature if they lack some information
• Integrate cognitive neuroscience projects
• Take the neuroscience level into account in their reflexion on cognitive topics at any level