Unit information: Theoretical and Clinical Neuropsychology. in 2021/22

Unit name	Theoretical and Clinical Neuropsychology.
Unit code	PSYCM0067
Credit points	20
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
Pre-requisites	None.
Co-requisites	None.
School/department	School of Psychological Science
Faculty	Faculty of Life Sciences

Description including Unit Aims

This unit covers two areas.

Part A: Clinical Neuropsychology in Practice provides students with a detailed understanding of a diverse range of issues connected to clinical neuropsychology in professional practice. Lectures are delivered by experts in a range of allied medical specialities, and students will explore how these various related disciplines interface with the role of a clinical neuropsychologist in a day to day medical context

Part B: Theoretical Neuropsychology focuses upon key theoretical issues within Neuropsychology. 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 emotion, reward, sleep, ageing, memory, language and theories of higher order brain function

Intended Learning Outcomes

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

Part A:

1. develop further competence in clinical practice and how that practice relates to interactions with a range of allied medical specialities.
2. synthesise and integrate the contributions made by a range of medical specialities in the treatment of individual patients. To critically evaluate the role of distinct interventions and their convergence in overall treatment outcome in the context of the evidence base. An understanding of the complexity of the overall processes.
3. demonstrate a clear understanding of the wider context of clinical practice and the professional world in which the clinical neuropsychologist is embedded.

Part B:

1. demonstrate an understanding of a range of contemporary theories concerning cerebral bases of 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? 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 evaluate the contribution of such knowledge within a clinical context.
4. synthesis and evaluation of information from a variety of sources. For example, to understand how scientific evidence about normal ageing can provide important insights into various forms of dementia.

Teaching Information

Part A: A series of lectures delivered in a one-week block by clinical subject matter experts (20 hours)

Part B: Weekly lectures (20 hours). This meets strict accreditation requirements for professional programmes conferring the highest UK award for professional training in clinical neuropsychology.

Assessment Information

A 2000-word coursework essay on a topic covered in Part B of the unit which provides 100% of 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. PSYCM0067).

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 Faculty workload statement relating to this unit for more information.

Assessment
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. If you have self-certificated your absence from an assessment, you will normally be required to complete it the next time it runs (this is usually in the next assessment period).
The Board of Examiners will take into account any extenuating circumstances and operates within the Regulations and Code of Practice for Taught Programmes.