Cognitive Science is an interdisciplinary Master Program involving different scientific fields of natural sciences, technological sciences, and humanities as well. The focus of investigations is on the phenomena of cognition - perception, attention, memory, reasoning, thinking, and behavior - from an interdisciplinary perspective: Anthropology, Artificial Intelligence, Biology, Linguistics, Neuroscience, Philosophy, and Psychology have contributed to its development as core disciplines.

The program offers a timely approach to answer the deep philosophical question of what is human cognition – ‘Who we are, and what kind of capabilities make us human’, with the help of modern scientific methods, like model building and sophisticated monitoring techniques (eye-tracking, EEG). The relevance of such an approach gains support from the constant need of building a knowledge-based society.... [-]

Of all the enormous variety of combinations of matter in the universe, the only combination we know of that is conscious - that feels, thinks, wonders, remembers, judges, hopes, dreams, calculates, and desires - is the brain. This in itself is a remarkable mystery. The human brain is approximately 75% water, 10% fat, 8% protein, and a few percentage points of carbohydrates and inorganic salts. Taken separately, none of these things think. Put together in a mass, still no thinking. But organize the material in the right way and it wakes up.

With approximately 100 billion neurons and taking up only 2% of the average person's body weight, the brain manages to control the vast majority of a person's thought and behavior, making us who we are. The study of the brain then is the study of who we are, what we are, and how we work. Neuroscience and Cognitive Studies is the interdisciplinary field where all these questions come together. From physiological research into neurotransmitter activity to psychological research into language acquisition and memory to philosophical research into the nature of consciousness and matter, the questions regarding the brain are countless and pose one of the most exciting and vigorous areas of academic research.... [-]

This course is highly interdisciplinary encompassing psychology, cognitive science, neuroscience, computational modelling, neuroimaging, robotics, and patient rehabilitation. The course is designed for those who are interested in applying knowledge of neural systems, brain function, and modelling to research in human cognition, perception, sensory and motor systems as well as the design of bio-inspired and biologically plausible robotic systems.

It has a strong research focus with hands-on modules and practical applications. The course is aimed at both students from psychology/neuroscience with a strong quantitative background and at students from computer science and physics that want to apply their knowledge to neuroscience.... [-]

How does our brain separate the sound of a Ferrari from the background noise of other car engines, or the face of a friend from other faces in a crowd? How do different parts of the brain interact when we perform everyday activities like riding a bicycle, typing a summary and drinking a cup of coffee? And how are fMRI signals related to neural activity? If these questions intrigue you, the Cognitive Neuroscience specialisation of the master's in Psychology might be a good fit for you. You’ll gain in-depth knowledge of human brain function and cognition, and you'll get practical training in the application of non-invasive brain imaging techniques such as EEG and fMRI. Upon graduation, you'll be an expert in cognitive psychology as well as in neuroscientific methods, leaving you well-equipped for a career in applied and clinical research at universities, research institutes, educational institutes or commercial research organisations.... [-]

Neuroscience spans many disciplines. Its repertoire stretches from molecular biology and proteome research to systems neurobiology, cognitive neuroscience, and clinical research. Successful research in neuroscience rests on a combination of differential concepts and methodical approaches.The major objective of the program is to offer to talented students a highly research-oriented training that will provide them with a broad overview of the most relevant fields of neuroscience, including basic neuroscience, clinical neuroscience, cognitive neuroscience and computational neuroscience. This also includes relevant practical skills.

The program will confront students with various levels of complexity of neural functions from molecular biology to systems neuroscience. A major characteristic comprises the optional training in clinical neuroscience that will familiarise students with neuropathology and aspects of neurology and will provide them with hands-on information on current technical approaches applied in clinical research.You do not require previous intensive training in neuroscience. However, solid background knowledge in the field of neuroscience is essential for following the courses. This includes the principal education in laboratory techniques, particularly in cell biological bench work. As the program is an interdisciplinary one, we invite applications from students from various fields.... [-]

Are you interested in the basis of consciousness, the mechanisms of learning or the genetics of behaviour? In this programme, you study the brain, cognition and behaviour from different perspectives.

The main focus of this Research Master is to train students to become independent researchers. For this purpose, a large proportion of the programme is devoted to two research projects in which the students are embedded in successful research groups to conduct their own research.

The programme offers three tracks:

You will become an expert in one of these fields. However, because of the integrated courses and links between these tracks, you will also get a unique and truly multi-disciplinary training. The BCN Research Master is one of the best Neuroscience MSc programmes of the Netherlands (Keuzegids Masters 2015/Dutch Higher Education Guide 2015).... [-]

The program of the two-year MSc is designed to offer a training in a specialized area of psychology and aims to be recognized as a high-level qualification for academic and professional purposes at international level.

The course units range from psychology, neurology and psychiatry and their clinical applications (in collaboration with the Departments of Neuroscience and Medicine).

The whole degree is strongly focused on laboratories- equipped with instruments such as TMS, tDCS, GEODESIC software – which allow our students’ theoretical learning to be integrated with the use of this technology to the purpose of enhancing their practical skills too.

Neuroscience is a discipline concerned with the scientific study of the nervous system in health and disease. Research in the neurosciences is of considerable clinical impact considering the debilitating and costly effects of neurological and psychiatric disease. In this regard, a major goal of modern neuroscience research is to elucidate the underlying causes (genetic or environmental) of major brain diseases, and to produce more effective treatments for major psychiatric disorders such as schizophrenia and depression, and neurological disorders such as multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, motor neurone disease and epilepsy. Improved treatment strategies for brain disorders relies entirely on increased understanding gained from research which integrates molecular, cellular and clinical aspects of disease. In this regard, it is clear that interdisciplinary approaches are necessary to understand the complex processes which underlie brain function in health and disease. This interdisciplinary philosophy is adopted in the delivery of our M.Sc. programme in Neuroscience, which is underpinned by the diverse research expertise available within Trinity College. The M.Sc. course in Neuroscience is held in the Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, located within Trinity College Institute of Neuroscience (T.C.I.N.) and Trinity College Biomedical Sciences Institute (T.B.S.I.).... [-]

How do we learn a language? How do we recognise faces? And how do we remember things? The human brain is fascinating and much still has to be discovered about it. This is why Cognitive Neuroscience has been called the discipline of the future. A discipline which - thanks to new brain imaging techniques - has made enormous progress. If you want to be in the front line of scientific research then Radboud University is the place to be. A concentration of top scientists from all over the world, combined with state-of-the-art technology, has resulted in an environment in which the brain is revealing its secrets.

Unique approach

The Cognitive Neuroscience Master’s programme at the Radboud University is unique in the world because of its multidisciplinary approach. Psychologists, physicists, biologists, mathematicians, linguists and medical professionals work side by side. It is precisely here – at the interface between disciplines – that discoveries are made that lead to new insights. This is the secret of our success and the reason for our excellent international reputation.... [-]

Understanding the relationship between brain, cognition and behaviour is one of the main challenges the scientific community is currently facing. Which neural processes underlie “free” decisions, the formation of new memories, the emergence of conscious experience? Computational cognitive neuroscience is a young and exciting discipline that tackles these long-standing research questions by integrating computer modelling with experimental research.

This Masters programme will foster a new generation of scientists who will be trained in both neurocomputational modelling as well as cognitive neuroscience.Its core topics include theory and practice of biologically constrained models of neurons, cortical circuits, and higher cognitive functions (memory, decision making, language), and fundamentals of cognitive neuroscience (brain mechanisms and structures underlying cognition and behaviour, as well as modern neuroimaging and data analysis techniques). The programme is suitable for students from a variety of disciplines (including psychology, computing, neuroscience, engineering, biology, maths, physics, or related subjects), and students with no prior programming experience are welcome. Thanks to the highly multidisciplinary and cutting-edge nature of the programme, graduates of this Masters will acquire a unique set of complementary skills that will make them extremely competitive in securing research or analyst positions in both academia and industry.... [-]