Unit information: Theoretical Neuropsychology and Neuroscience Methods in 2025/26

Unit name	Theoretical Neuropsychology and Neuroscience Methods
Unit code	PSYCM0094
Credit points	30
Level of study	M/7
Teaching block(s)	Teaching Block 2 (weeks 13 - 24)
Unit director	Professor. Kit Pleydell-Pearce
Open unit status	Not open
Units you must take before you take this one (pre-requisite units)	None
Units you must take alongside this one (co-requisite units)	None
Units you may not take alongside this one	None
School/department	School of Psychological Science
Faculty	Faculty of Life Sciences

Unit Information

Adult Versus Paediatric Pathway

This unit is employed on degrees which permit specialisation in either adult or paediatric clinical neuropsychology. Students must select the adult or paediatric pathway when applying to study with us. Once students start studying with us, they cannot change their choice of pathway. Those taking either adult or paediatric pathways are enrolled on the same units and significant portions of taught content are common and students are therefore taught in the same class. When there is a need to deliver content specific to only one pathway, paediatric and adult pathways will be taught separately.

Part A:

Theoretical Neuropsychology focuses upon key theoretical issues within Neuropsychology. On the adult pathway this involves an overview of theories concerned with the cerebral bases of key cognitive and affective processes. This provides an understanding of issues that are at the frontiers of contemporary research and theory. Areas covered include emotion, reward, sleep, ageing, memory, language and theories of higher order brain function. For the paediatric pathway this involves an overview of theories concerned with the developmental bases of key cognitive, social and affective processes. This provides an understanding of issues that are at the frontiers of contemporary research and theory. Areas covered include emotional and social development, memory, language and theories of higher order brain function.

Part B:

Neuroscience Methods reviews the functional neuroanatomy of the human brain, and thus provides an absolute core set of knowledge for Neuropsychology. This learning is coupled with a comprehensive and critical review of the major techniques and methods employed to study the human brain. Many of the principles of these techniques are common to both adult and paediatric pathways, though some split teaching will be required for certain topics.

Your learning on this unit

On successful completion of this unit, a student will be able to:

Part A:

1. Demonstrate an understanding of a range of contemporary theories concerning cerebral (or the development of) bases of social cognitive and affective functions.
2. Demonstrate a capacity to understand the connection between academic neuropsychology/neuroscience and clinical practice issues. For example, how does an understanding of brain mechanisms of emotion influence our understanding of depression or anxiety. Or on the paediatric pathway, how the development of regulatory capacity informs our understanding of ADHD. To demonstrate a synthesis of information from clinical practice and more academic approaches. To critically evaluate this interface.
3. Develop a critical understanding of contemporary theories of brain function and the development of brain function, and evaluate the contribution of such knowledge within a clinical context.
4. Synthesis and evaluation of information from a variety of sources. For example on the adult pathway to understand how scientific evidence about normal ageing can provide important insights into various forms of dementia; or on the paediatric pathway to understand how genetic disorder influence the course of brain development and behavioural and cognitive outcomes.

Part B:

5. Develop an understanding of the principles of human brain function.

6. Demonstrate knowledge of a range of techniques used to investigate the human brain.

7. Develop a clear understanding of the principles underlying techniques employed to study the human brain and a capacity to evaluate the quality and usefulness of each technique.

8. Demonstrate awareness of the strengths and weaknesses of different neuroscientific techniques and appraise and judge these in the context of formal assessments.

9. Demonstrate a capacity to critically appreciate the kinds of information delivered by different neuroscientific techniques. To evaluate and appraise the ways in which convergence of different techniques provides a more holistic level of understanding at differing spatial and temporal scales.

10. Synthesise information based on brain imaging with our understanding of the developmental consequences of brain injury.

11. Appreciate the limits of current understanding of the human brain how this relates to current limits in spatial and temporal resolution. To produce critical evaluations based upon awareness of these limits.

How you will learn

Parts A and B: Weekly lectures deliver clinical content of a total of 20 hours. This meets strict accreditation requirements for professional programmes conferring the highest UK award for professional training in clinical neuropsychology.

How you will be assessed

Tasks which count towards your unit mark (summative):

A 2000-word coursework essay on a topic covered in Part A of the unit which provides 50% of total unit mark.

In Part B, there is a timed assessment worth 50% of the total unit mark.

Resources

If this unit has a Resource List, you will normally find a link to it in the Blackboard area for the unit. Sometimes there will be a separate link for each weekly topic.

If you are unable to access a list through Blackboard, you can also find it via the Resource Lists homepage. Search for the list by the unit name or code (e.g. PSYCM0094).

How much time the unit requires
Each credit equates to 10 hours of total student input. For example a 20 credit unit will take you 200 hours of study to complete. Your total learning time is made up of contact time, directed learning tasks, independent learning and assessment activity.

See the University Workload statement relating to this unit for more information.

Assessment
The assessment methods listed in this unit specification are designed to enable students to demonstrate the named learning outcomes (LOs). Where a disability prevents a student from undertaking a specific method of assessment, schools will make reasonable adjustments to support a student to demonstrate the LO by an alternative method or with additional resources.

The Board of Examiners will consider all cases where students have failed or not completed the assessments required for credit. The Board considers each student's outcomes across all the units which contribute to each year's programme of study. For appropriate assessments, if you have self-certificated your absence, you will normally be required to complete it the next time it runs (for assessments at the end of TB1 and TB2 this is usually in the next re-assessment period).
The Board of Examiners will take into account any exceptional circumstances and operates within the Regulations and Code of Practice for Taught Programmes.