Cognitive Neuroscience

Description

Cognitive neuroscience is the study of higher cognitive functions in humans and their underlying neural bases. It is an integrative area of study drawing primarily from cognitive science, psychology, neuroscience, and linguistics. There are two broad directions that can be taken in this concentration - one is behavioral/experimental and the other is computational/modeling. In both, the goal is to understand the nature of cognition from a neural perspective. The standard concentration for the Sc.B. degree requires courses on the foundations, systems level, and integrative aspects of cognitive neuroscience as well as laboratory and elective courses that fit within a particular theme or category such as general cognition, vision, language or computational/modeling. Concentrators must also complete a senior seminar course or an independent research course. Students may also participate in the work of the Brown Institute for Brain Science, an interdisciplinary program that unites ninety faculty from eleven departments.

Student Goals

Students in this concentration will:

• Understand the nature of cognition from a neural perspective
• Develop competence in the foundational and integrative aspects of the field of cognitive neuroscience
• Create a focus area around a particular theme or category
• Learn and apply experimental methods relevant to the field
• Complete a capstone project in collaboration with a faculty member

Requirements

Click here for a list of the Cognitive Neuroscience concentration requirements. For more information about this concentration, please visit the department's website.

Honors and Capstones

All concentrators must enroll in either a senior seminar course (CG 195) or an independent research course. Students who wish to earn Honors in Cognitive Neuroscience are expected to have half of their grades as A or S with distinction in courses in the concentration and are required to satisfactorily complete a written thesis and an oral defense. Please see the department's website for a complete description of program requirements.

Liberal Learning

This concentration allows you to address the following Liberal Learning goals:

• Collaborate fully
• Engage with your community
• Develop a facility with symbolic languages
• Experience scientific inquiry
• Evaluate human behavior

Download the full statement on Liberal Learning at Brown

Affiliated Departments

• Brain and Neural Systems
• CLPS
• Neuroscience

Advisors

• Sheila Blumstein
• William Heindel

Graduating Class

Alumni Pathways

Brown alumni with degrees in Cognitive Neuroscience have pursued advanced degrees in public health, law, medicine, and other fields. They have also pursued careers in management consulting, software engineering, education, and the entertainment industry.

See more details on the CareerLAB website.

Dept. Undergraduate Group

Student Leaders:

• Anuj Patel
• William Palmer
• Stephanie Tin