BMD3006 : Advanced Research Topics in Neuroscience (Inactive)
- Inactive for Year: 2025/26
- Module Leader(s): Dr Mark Eldridge
- Co-Module Leader: Dr Claudia Racca
- Owning School: Biomedical, Nutritional and Sports Scien
- Teaching Location: Newcastle City Campus
Semesters
Your programme is made up of credits, the total differs on programme to programme.
| Semester 1 Credit Value: | 20 |
| ECTS Credits: | 10.0 |
| European Credit Transfer System | |
Aims
The aim of this module is to introduce students to state-of-the-art research techniques, and to provide in-depth applied knowledge of sub-fields of Neuroscience.
Specifically, students will be introduced to advanced neuroscience via:
Modern methods for monitoring and manipulating neurons and circuits.
Applied neuroscience for clinical and societal benefit.
Technical, analytical, and critical thinking skills for independent scientific study.
Outline Of Syllabus
The module will comprise a series of advanced topics reflecting current developments across Neuroscience research at Newcastle.
Students will select 2 from the 4 research topics offered in this module:
Cellular and molecular neuroscience
Sensory System
Motor System
Cognition
Teaching Methods
Teaching Activities
| Category | Activity | Number | Length | Student Hours | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Lecture | 1 | 1:00 | 1:00 | Introductory lecture |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Small group teaching | 10 | 1:00 | 10:00 | Structured research and reading activities, and coursework training |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Small group teaching | 20 | 1:00 | 20:00 | Seminars |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Workshops | 1 | 2:00 | 2:00 | In person scientific paper interpretation workshop |
| Guided Independent Study | Independent study | 167 | 1:00 | 167:00 | Writing up lecture, seminar notes, Assessment preparation and completion, Directed research and reading, Skills practice, Reflective learning activity |
| Total | 200:00 |
Teaching Rationale And Relationship
Lectures a formal taught session to the whole cohort which includes the introduction to the module and student selection of topics.
Seminars will encourage contextualisation of taught material through discussion, Q&As, data interpretation and problem-solving. Seminars will also be used for the topic specific exposition of theory, themes, methodologies and techniques. These will form the basis of a student’s understanding of the taught subject and will provide students with key information to achieve the learning outcomes of the module.
Workshop will provide skills training and potentially assessment guidance. Workshops foster active learning, collaboration, and critical thinking. It bridges theory and practice by engaging students in problem-solving, discussions, and hands-on activities, enhancing understanding and retention while developing teamwork and communication skills.
Independent study will allow students to extend their knowledge and prepare for assessments through consolidation of module content, reading of books, journal articles and other recommended references.
In-course assessments will teach students time management and organisation and encourage independent working, as well as supporting their understanding of the subject.
Assessment Methods
The format of resits will be determined by the Board of Examiners
Exams
| Description | Length | Semester | When Set | Percentage | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Written Examination | 90 | 2 | A | 60 | Invigilated exam: 3 x essays chosen from max of 10 |
Other Assessment
| Description | Semester | When Set | Percentage | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Prob solv exercises | 1 | M | 40 | In-course open-book experiment development exercises (max 2000 words) |
Assessment Rationale And Relationship
The Written Examination provides evidence of individual knowledge and understanding of the topics. Timed essay: this tests the application of knowledge, understanding and critical evaluation skills.
The Experiment Development Exercises will assess the student’s ability to understand a research paper, evaluate it critically, and draw scientifically valid conclusions as well as new hypotheses to be tested. The student will be required to develop appropriate follow-up experiments to test the latter. Students will also develop their written communication skills.
Reading Lists
Timetable
- Timetable Website: www.ncl.ac.uk/timetable/
- BMD3006's Timetable