BSc Psychology. Major in Cognitive Neuropsychology

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1 BSc Psychology Major in Cognitive Neuropsychology

2 Major in Cognitive Neuropsychology Description: This major focuses on both normal and abnormal development of the brain; on the accompanying cognitive, behavioural and emotional functions; and on both the diagnosis and treatment of neurological and neuropsychological disorders. Language: Given in both Dutch and English Gives access/entry to the following Masters: Medical Psychology, Clinical Psychology (PGG) and the research master Individual Differences and Assessment and also to similar masters at other universitites.

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4 Courses given First year (already completed) ~ Experimental Psychology (and in Dutch: Functieleer) ~ Brain and Behavior (and in Dutch: Hersen en Gedrag) Second year ~ Introduction to Clinical Neuropsychology (and in Dutch: Inleiding Klinische Neuropsychologie) ~ Cognitive Neuropsychology (given in English) ~ Social Neuroscience (given in English) Third year ~ Neuropsychological Assessment (given in English) ~ Individual Bachelor Thesis

5 Introduction to Clinical Neuropsychology Major course 1 Lecturers: Content: This course addresses the effect of innate and acquired neural damage on cognition, emotion, and behavior in adults. First, an overview will be presented of modern methods for measuring brain activity and diagnostics of brain damage and neural dysfunction. Next, an overview will be presented of the major functions of the various parts of the brain, including functional differences between the two hemispheres. Subsequently, a broad range of cognitive, behavioral, and emotional dysfunctions will be treated which can be attributed to neurological disorders, particularly dysfunctions regarding (1) learning and memory, (2) language, (3) emotion and social behavior, (4) spatial orientation, (5) attention and consciousness, and (6) voluntary movements. It will also be explained to what extent these dysfunctions are part of typical syndromes belonging to major neurological and psychiatric disorders. Finally, it will be explained how early developmental factors may be involved in the origin of brain disorders and dysfunctions, and how plasticity, recovery, and rehabilitation may play a role in the recovery and compensation of such dysfunctions.

6 Cognitive Neuropsychology Major course 2 Lecturers: Contents: In this course several brain-behavior methodologies like MRI, DTI and VLSM will be explained. In addition, cognitive rehabilitation and enhancement methods will be discussed and students learn to translate the findings of research that makes use of these methodologies to cognition, social behavior and feelings like empathy, trustworthiness, decision making, greed and aggression. From the perspective of adaptive plasticity of the brain we will also consider to what extent this kind of behavior can be modified.

7 Lecturers: and guests Social Neuroscience Major course 3 Content: Students will be introduced to the diverse methods and concepts of social neuroscience. We will focus on topics as (1) reading the body language of others (2) empathy and theory of mind, (3) morality and anti-social behaviour, (4) Indoctrination and extremism, (5) stereotypes, (6) identity and group formation, (7) manipulating others, (8) determinants of economic and financial decision making and (9) privacy. From the perspective of adaptive plasticity of the brain, we will also consider to what extent behaviour and emotions connected to these topics can be modified. The topics will be discussed in the context of direct human social interaction and in the context of the problems of our times.

8 Lecturer: Psychodiagnostics Major course 4 See

9 Neuropsychological Assessment Elective course. Important part of cognitive neuropsychology major!! Lecturer: Content: The student will be introduced to the procedures clinical neuropsychologists follow when they make patient assessments. This includes the clinical interview, the importance of obtaining comprehensive case histories, the plethora of neuropsychological tests that are available and ultimately which ones to chose when a patient is referred to us for diagnosis. Brain structure and function will be closely linked throughout. The emphasis will be on neuropsychological diagnosis, with a specific focus on memory, attention, language, motor functions and executive functioning.

10 Bachelor thesis (3rd year) Experimental/empirical research Supervised by one of our team A few titles of recent Bachelor theses: ~ Does Into D mentia increase Empathy of Informal Caregivers who Care for Dementia Patients? ~ The relationship between subjective and objective cognitive functioning in glioblastoma multiforme patients: the role of sex ~Cognitive Functioning and Quality of Life in Patients with Brain Metastases before Gamma Knife Radiosurgery ~Alfa Ritme als maat voor Visuele Aandacht: een ERD-studie

11 Future/career options Education & Research (junior researcher, PhD student, later: post-doc, further career in academia) Practice - basis psycholoog ; psychotherapist; own practice Can provide entry into GGZ and specialist programs (including training for the specialism in clinical neuropsychology) Business administration; marketing etc Workplaces hospitals, nursing homes, specialist clinics, schools, universities, business