Module manager: Jean-Francois Delvenne
Email: j.f.delvenne@leeds.ac.uk
Taught: Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) View Timetable
Year running 2025/26
Successful completion of all pass for progression modules in Level 2 of: BSc Psychology or MPsyc, BSc Advanced Psychology, BA Philosophy, Psychology and Scientific Thought (and its International and Industrial variants) or BSc Psychology with Education (and its International and Industrial variants)
| PSYC2518 | Cognitive Neuroscience |
This module is not approved as a discovery module
Students will specialise in conceptual and theoretical issues relating to hemispheric lateralisation and inter-hemispheric interaction.
In this module, students will acquire an understanding of how the separation of the brain into two hemispheres affects human cognition. It will include state-of-the-art research from experimental work performed with healthy and clinical populations.
On completion of this module, students will have been exposed to a synthesized and integrated view of what we know both about hemispheric lateralisation (i.e., the localisation of a particular function on either the left or right sides of the brain) and the effect of inter-hemispheric interaction (i.e., the transfer of information between hemispheres).
They will be expected to be able to:
- demonstrate experimentally-informed understanding of the literature on hemispheric lateralisation and inter-hemispheric interaction;
- demonstrate critical understanding of the various methodologies used in the divided brain literature and evaluate their strengths and weaknesses;
- address current debates in divided brain literature;
- show how neuropsychology provides useful evidence for understanding how the two cerebral hemispheres functionally differ;
- demonstrate critical and independent evaluation of individual journal articles
This module supports the development of:
- Analytic and creative thinking
- Information retrieval, synthesis and evaluation
- Evidence-based reasoning
- Group working and presentation skills
In the lecture series, we will explore the role of the two cerebral hemispheres in relation to a wide variety of mental functions with a particular emphasis on verbal and visuo-spatial processing. It will include state-of-the-art research from experimental work performed with healthy and clinical populations. The topics that will be covered are:
Anatomical differences between the two hemispheres
Corpus callosum
The split-brain syndrome
Lateralised lesions
The divided visual field technique
Developmental aspects of hemispheric specialisation
Hemispheric specialisation in verbal and visuo-spatial processing
Integration of information across the two hemispheres
Individual differences (gender & handedness)
The ageing effect on hemispheric lateralisation and interaction
| Delivery type | Number | Length hours | Student hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lecture | 10 | 1.5 | 15 |
| Private study hours | 135 | ||
| Total Contact hours | 15 | ||
| Total hours (100hr per 10 credits) | 150 | ||
4 hours preparation for each lecture (x10): 40 hours.
Preparation for presentation: 20 hours.
Preparation for end of semester exam: 40 hours.
Independent literature searches, reading and use of VLE discussion room: 35 hours
Each lecture will finish with a short informal MCQ to test the student's knowledge of the material covered in the class.
In order to encourage critical analysis of research articles on this module, students will be given a research article two weeks in advance to critically evaluate and will be encouraged to meet in groups to discuss the article. Students will present their findings to their peers at the end of the lecture sessions. The presentations will count 10% of the module mark.
| Assessment type | Notes | % of formal assessment |
|---|---|---|
| Presentation | Group Pres 15 mins | 10 |
| In-course MCQ | At the end of lectures | 0 |
| Total percentage (Assessment Coursework) | 10 | |
In order to encourage critical analysis of research articles on this module, students will be given a research article two weeks in advance to critically evaluate and will be encouraged to meet in groups to discuss the article. Students will present their findings to their peers in weeks 3-10.
| Exam type | Exam duration | % of formal assessment |
|---|---|---|
| Online Time-Limited assessment | 2.0 Hrs 0 Mins | 90 |
| Total percentage (Assessment Exams) | 90 | |
The exam will consist of an essay question (70% of module mark) and short answer questions (20%).
Check the module area in Minerva for your reading list
Last updated: 30/04/2025
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