Maastricht University - Center for European Studies

The course Computational and Cognitive Neuroscience presents an overview of the core topics in cognitive and biological psychology. These topics include (human) perception, learning, memory, planning, problem solving, reasoning, language, speech, and action. Both the functional and neuroanatomical foundations of cognitive faculties are addressed. Several models of cognition and theories of brain function that are of relevance to knowledge engineering are outlined. Several skills trainings are given to train understanding in biological functioning of neuronal communication and functioning of neural networks and genetic algorithms.

Study the development of cognition through a neuroscientific lens, examine how the nervous system starts out wired for every possible contingency to eventually prune (tune) itself towards an efficient functioning for the environment it resides it, study the neural network structure and functioning of the brain, its common properties that support efficient cognitive functioning, and how disruptions to these networks can impair cognition. The course also covers the theory of neuroplasticity, focusing on the role of the brain’s lifelong ability to rewire itself. In addition, study mirror neurons, atypical developmental processes (including autism, schizophrenia, and trauma), and the intersection between developmental cognitive neuroscience and society. A mandatory field trip to Amsterdam is included, where the Van Gogh museum is visited to study Van Gogh’s art as a clinical case and experience immediate neuroplasticity first-hand by dining in complete darkness during a three-course meal. Motivated and dedicated students have the opportunity to co-author a paper with the course coordinator for potential publication in well-respected journals (topics of interest can be discussed). Students should have completed at least two Psychology courses and should be interested in brain development and neuroscientific methods that can be used to uncover developmental processes.

This course introduces the general technical/methodological requirements, problems/challenges, and application possibilities of brain-computer interfacing. Besides attending lectures, in which course participants are provided with basic relevant knowledge by local BCI researchers, students study seminal papers of recent BCI work. Further, discuss the pros and cons of different functional brain imaging methods employed for BCIs as well as ethical implications and future directions. The practical part of this course includes a demonstration of an fNIRS-BCI experiment. At a later stage of the course, students perform an fNIRS-BCI experiment themselves.

The course's main topics are demography and epidemiology, with a special focus on population ageing and migration as important demographical developments in the European Union (EU). Learn to apply epidemiological methods to examine the impact of important demographical developments on public health in the EU. The course consists of three parts. In Part I, demography is introduced and students learn to describe and analyze the extent and causes of population ageing and migration in the EU. In Part II, several core epidemiological concepts and methods are dealt with, including research designs, association measures, bias, effect-modification, validity & reliability, and causal interpretation of research findings. Students familiarize themselves with these concepts by applying them to examine how population ageing and migration impact health in the EU. The role of socio‐economic differences is considered. Next to the exploration of ageing-related diseases (e.g. dementia), the course also introduces reproductive/child health. In Part III, to apply the knowledge from the first two parts to compare and critically appraise preventive measures (e.g. population screening) and public health policies for controlling negative health consequences of population ageing and migration in the EU.

This course teaches the psychiatric and neurological disorders that predispose to criminal offences. Most of this course pertains to neurocognitive processes of criminal offenders. Contextual factors, such as the history and current state of neuropsychology and psychiatry are discussed to provide the desired background knowledge of this topic. A considerable part of the course is devoted to neuropsychological abnormalities in offenders who are affected by a psychiatric disorder. Another substantial part of the course pertains to offenders with acquired brain injury. The connection between neural abnormalities and criminal offences are critically evaluated for each psychiatric or neurological disorder. A completely different side of neuropsychology and law, the effect of neurocognitive disorders in victims/witnesses of crimes on their eyewitness testimony, are also dealt with.

The purpose of this course is to introduce recent breakthroughs in the physical and biological sciences that are now being explored for biomedical applications. The topics come directly from the research expertise of the lecturers, all of whom are young principal investigators in the new research institutes at the UM: MERLN and M4I. The course covers a broad range of topics, including nanomaterials for regenerative medicine, supramolecular biomaterials, big data and computer learning, electron microscopy, imaging and diagnostic mass spectrometry, and structural biology of tuberculosis. Gain firsthand experience of scientific research taking place at the UM and have the opportunity to visit research laboratories as part of a demonstration of some of the topics discussed in the lectures. In addition to a final content-based oral exam, there are two papers for evaluation. For their midterm, students choose a recent discovery reported in the press and investigate the scientific claims and integrity of the reporting. In the final paper, the student acts as the reporter, and write an opinion piece on a topic of research in either MERLN or M4I; this report is informed by an interview with one of the lecturers. Prerequisites include at least one of: SCI2017 Organic Chemistry, SCI2037 Cell Biology, or SCI2038 Physics. Highly motivated students with a different background should speak to the course coordinators.