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39810-01 - Seminar with practical course: The Neuroscience of Decision Making and Applications to Life Span (3 CP)
| Semester | spring semester 2015 |
| Course frequency | Every semester |
| Lecturers |
Rui Mata (rui.mata@unibas.ch)
Dirk Ostwald (dirk.ostwald@unibas.ch, Assessor) |
| Content | Over the last decade there has been an enormous increase in the scientific research on and our knowledge about the neurobiological basis of human decision making. The aim of this course is provide the student with an overview of the origins, methods, and leading theories of this flourishing field, sometimes referred to as "Neuroeconomics" or "Decision Neuroscience" as well as it applications to understanding the life span development of decision making. Starting from the economic, psychological, and biological foundations of decision neuroscience, this course will explore the neural bases for perceptual and value-based decisions and the implications for understanding human development. The course will convene roughly every two weeks (see dates below). Students will be given the possibility of obtaining a grade based on a short essay of (1 to 2 pages) in English or German commenting on a scientific article on developmental decision neuroscience. 1. Feb 19 Overview 2. Mar 5 History of Neuroeconomics and Methods of Neoclassical Economics 2. Mar 19 Experimental Methods in Cognitive Neuroscience 3. Mar 26 Visit to the N-Lab (Neuroscience lab) 4. April 16 Perceptual Decision Making 5. April 30 Value-based Decision Making 6. May 14 The Neuroscience of Markov Decision Processes 7. May 28. Student presentations. |
| Learning objectives | Upon completion of the course, the student has a basic understanding of the questions asked in decision neuroscience and can critically evaluate the methods used to answer these. Further, the student has obtained the necessary background knowledge for carrying out an MSc thesis project on decision making from a neuroscientific perspective. |
| Bibliography | Glimcher and Fehr (Eds.) (2014) Neuroeconomics - Decision Making and the Brain, Academic Press, Second Edition. |
| Admission requirements | Abgeschlossenes Bachelorstudium. |
| Course application | Ab 1. Januar bis zum 19. Januar 2015 können über MOnA die Seminare belegt werden. Ab dem 20. Januar 2015 werden die Dozenten die Zuteilungen bis zum 2. Februar 2015 vornehmen. Im Anschluss besteht die Möglichkeit, nach Absprache mit den Dozenten, weitere Seminare zu belegen. |
| Language of instruction | English |
| Use of digital media | No specific media used |
| Interval | Weekday | Time | Room |
|---|
No dates available. Please contact the lecturer.
| Modules |
Modul Methoden Klinische Psychologie und Neurowissenschaften (Master Psychologie) Modul Methoden Sozial-, Wirtschafts- und Entscheidungspsychologie (Master Psychologie) Modul Theorie Grundlagen Sozial-, Wirtschafts- und Entscheidungspsychologie (Master Psychologie) Modul Theorie Klinische Psychologie und Neurowissenschaften (Master Psychologie) |
| Assessment format | continuous assessment |
| Assessment details | Seminar Presentation |
| Assessment registration/deregistration | Reg.: course registration; dereg.: teaching staff |
| Repeat examination | no repeat examination |
| Scale | Pass / Fail |
| Repeated registration | as often as necessary |
| Responsible faculty | Faculty of Psychology, studiendekanat-psychologie@unibas.ch |
| Offered by | Faculty of Psychology |