Neuroimaging Applied to Psychological Science

Code:

P854

Acronym:

NACP

Keywords
Classification	Keyword
OFICIAL	Scientific Research Methodology

Instance: 2015/2016 - 2S

Active?	Yes
Responsible unit:	Psychology
Course/CS Responsible:	Integrated Master Psychology

Cycles of Study/Courses

Acronym	No. of Students	Study Plan	Curricular Years	Credits UCN	Credits ECTS	Contact hours	Total Time
MIPSI	12	Official Curricular Structure	4	-	6	54	162

Teaching language

Suitable for English-speaking students

Objectives

The objectives of this course are to enable students:

1. To understand the history and conceptual foundations of neuroimaging research, and its place within Psychological Science;
2. To describe the general characteristics of neuroimaging studies, considering their advantages as well as their limitations;
3. To know the main neuroimaging techniques (CT, MRI, PET/SPECT, fMRI, fNIRS, EEG/MEG) and their biophysical bases;
4. To recognize the usefulness of neuroimaging in research and applied contexts (as well as to identify misuses of neuroimaging);
5. To understand the specificities of experimental design in neuroimaging;
6. To master the basics of digital biological signal processing;
7. To know the specific procedures for the acquisition, processing, analysis, and interpretation of electrophysiological (EEG) and hemodynamic (fMRI) data.

Learning outcomes and competences

At the end of this course the students should be able:

1. To understand neuroimaging as a methodological tool in Psychological Science;
2. To critically appraise neuroimaging studies;
3. To recognize the different neuroimaging techniques;
4. To consider the potential scientific and applied uses of neuroimaging;
5. To design an appropriate experimental study that includes neuroimaging;
6. To conduct basic digital biological signal processing operations, particularly in electrophysiological (EEG) and hemodynamic (fMRI) data.

Working method

Presencial

Pre-requirements (prior knowledge) and co-requirements (common knowledge)

There are no formal pre-requirements in order to enroll in this course, but it is recommended that students have previously completed the following courses: Neurosciences, Psychophysiology, Laboratory Practice Neuropsychophysiology, Research Methods in Psychology, Statistics I, II, and III.

Program

The syllabus is organized in two thematic modules:

1. Module I – Historical and conceptual foundations
  1.1. Brief history of Neuroimaging and its role in Psychological Science
  1.2. Neuroimaging and Neuropsychological Inference
  1.3. General review on functional neuroanatomy
  1.4. Main Neuroimaging techniques
    1.4.1. Structural/anatomical Neuroimaging
      1.4.1.1. Computerized Tomography (CT)
      1.4.1.2. Magnetic Ressoance Imaging (MRI)
    1.4.2. Functional Neuroimaging
      1.4.2.1. Electro- and Magnetoencephalography (EEG/MEG)
      1.4.2.2. Positron Emission Tomography (PET) and Single Photon Emission Computerized Tomography (SPECT)
      1.4.2.3. Functional Magnetic Ressonance Imaging (fMRI)
      1.4.2.4. Functional Near Infrared Spectroscopy (fNIRS)
  1.5. Applications of Neuroimaging in the context of Psychological Science

2. Module II – Methodology
  2.1. Safety and ethical issues in Neuroimaging research
  2.2. Experimental design in Neuroimaging
  2.3. Basics of digital biological signal processing
  2.4. Methodology for the acquisition, processing, analysis, and interpretation of functional neuroimaging data
    2.4.1. Electrophysiological data (EEG/ERP – event-related potentials)
    2.4.2. Hemodynamic data (fMRI)

Mandatory literature

Cacioppo, J. T., Tassinary, L. G., & Berntson, G. (Eds.); Handbook of Psychophysiology (3rd ed.), Cambridge University Press, 2007
Luck Steven J.; An^introduction to the event-related potencial technique. ISBN: 978-0-262-62196-0
Huettel, S. A., Song, A. W., & McCarthy, G.; Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (3rd ed.), Sinauer Associates, Inc., 2014
Kolb, B., & Whishaw, I.; Fundamentals of Human Neuropsychology (7th ed.), Worth Publishers, 2015

Complementary Bibliography

Luck, S. J.; An Introduction to the Event-Related Potential Technique (2nd ed.), MIT Press, 2014
Johns, P.; Clinical Neuroscience: An Illustrated Colour Text, Churchill Livingstone Elsevier, 2014
Luck, S. J., & Kappenman, E. S. (Eds.); The Oxford Handbook of Event-Related Potential Components, Oxford University Press, 2011
Cabeza, R., & Kingstone, A. (Eds.); Handbook of Functional Neuroimaging of Cognition (2nd ed.), MIT Press, 2006

Comments from the literature

Specific papers will be provided for each module of the syllabus.

Teaching methods and learning activities

Classes are theoretical with practice, organized under the following pedagogical models:

1. Plenary lectures;
2. Accompanied study and/or study based on multimedia resources;
3. Literature searches and review;
4. Discussion of problems;
5. Laboratory visits with demonstrations and experiments (including data processing, analysis, and interpretation);
6. Individual evaluation of knowledge and skills.

Beyond the class work, there will be independent study and tutorial support when requested by the student. On occasion, specialists on the topic of the course may be invited to make a presentation.

Software

EEGLAB [http://sccn.ucsd.edu/eeglab/]
Statistical Parametric Mapping (SPM12) [http://www.fil.ion.ucl.ac.uk/spm/]
MRIcron [http://www.mricro.com/]
ERP PeakScore [http://www.fpce.up.pt/labpsi/index.php?page=13&level=2]

keywords

Health sciences > Neuroscience
Social sciences > Psychological sciences
Social sciences > Psychological sciences > Cognitive science
Technological sciences > Technology > Computer technology > Signal processing
Natural sciences > Biological sciences > Biology > Behavioural biology
Health sciences > Medical sciences > Medicine > Brain research

Evaluation Type

Distributed evaluation without final exam

Assessment Components

designation	Weight (%)
Teste	100,00
Total:	100,00

Amount of time allocated to each course unit

designation	Time (hours)
Estudo autónomo	108,00
Frequência das aulas	54,00
Total:	162,00

Eligibility for exams

In order to be approved, students must attend to a minimum of 75% of the classes.

A minimum written test score of 8 points is required in each of the tests.

If a student is absent or has a score below 8 in one of the tests, she will have access to a final test, which will be scheduled specifically with the students, predictably in the last week of classes.

Calculation formula of final grade

Individual assessment consists of two written tests, one at the end of each module, both scored in a zero to 20 scale. The final classification (FC) is the integer result of the arithmetic mean of the scores obtained in the two tests, i.e. FC = (T1 + T2) / 2. A student will be approved if her final classification is equal to or greater than 9.5 and, cumulatively, she has obtained a score of at least 8 in each of the tests.

Examinations or Special Assignments

No special assessments are foreseen.

Special assessment (TE, DA, ...)

Students with a special statute (e.g., those who also have jobs) must submit to the same written test assessments, at the same dates that are planned for the general students (classes at the end of each module). A different schedule may be negotiated, but must be requested in writing to the teacher, at least 48 hours in advance.

Classification improvement

Students may request new assessments for the purpose of improving the final classification in the year that follows the one in which approval was obtained.

Observations

Students who obtain a final classification lower than 9.5 points, will have access to an appeal written examination, at a date and time to be scheduled.