Knowledge and understanding
This course provides a strong background in systems-level neuroscience and allows students to develop integrative research interests that cross domains. This knowledge will be based upon the most recent developments in the field, supported by relevant litterature and research examples. During the course, the critical thinking abilities of students will be supported through the discussion of research protocols in the field of cognitive neuroscience, to help them to understand the strength and weaknesses of different research methods and how to exploit them to improve our knowledge on the brain-cognition relationship through experimental actions. The laboratory will allow students to learn how to program basic experiments in cognitive neuroscience, also based upon the integration of their knowledge of psychological processes.

Applying knowledge and understanding
Students will gain a thorough understanding of the intellectual issues that drive this rapidly growing field, as well as expertise in the major methods for research on higher brain function. Students will also learn to apply the acquired knowledge in designing and carrying out empirical studies in the field of cognitive neuroscience. In particular, they will learn how to design experiments in PsychoPy (www.psychopy.org), a program designed to facilitate the conception of any experiment that uses a computer as an interface between the subject and the experimenter.

Making judgement
Students will gain the ability to independently integrate methodological and theoretical skills in the field of cognitive neuroscience and to apply them in different contexts, taking into account specific critical aspects of various operational situations. Students will also gain the ability to reorganize the acquired knowledge in order to promote innovative and original solutions through judgment based on empirical data and a critical reading of the complexities inherent to the field of cognitive neuroscience.

Communication skills
Students will acquire communication skills that allow an effective interaction with various types of professionals from different cultural and scientific backgrounds, both in the public and private sectors, to propose innovative research projects in cognitive neuroscience and communicate one's results and conclusions to an audience of specialists and non-specialists in a clear, detailed, and scientifically grounded manner, referring to specific disciplinary lexicons. Students will also learn how to coordinate and facilitate team work and collaborate effectively with other agents fluently and competently in English.

Learning skills
The course will promote the acquisition of the ability to adopt new developments and innovations emerging from international scientific results in cognitive neuroscience, updating one's skills to the rapid evolution of the field and making use of specialized bibliographic resources and various professional development initiatives. The course will also promote the ability to understand and apply in-depth scientific literature review in order to apply the most advanced knowledge and tools available in an original way.