Study Programmes 2016-2017
PSYC0061-1  
Animal cognition
Duration :
30h Th
Number of credits :
Master in biology of organisms and ecology (120 ECTS)3
Master in psychology : general (120 ECTS)3
Lecturer :
André Ferrara
Language(s) of instruction :
French language
Organisation and examination :
Teaching in the second semester
Units courses prerequisite and corequisite :
Prerequisite or corequisite units are presented within each program
Learning unit contents :
Proposed issue examples in 2016-17:
  • Animal cognition and environmental enrichment.
  • Animal cognition and physical exercice.
  • Touchscreen uses with laboratory mice.
  • Episodic-like memory in animal.
  • Executive functions in animals.
  • ...
 
Learning outcomes of the learning unit :
Being able to draw up the theoretical context of the chosen issue. Ultimately, there is for the psychologist or the biologist, an issue needing a behavioral and/or a cognitive assessment. How the assessment is practically realized in animal subjects? How are the behavioral aspects operationaly measured? Which inferences can we make on cognition from the observed behavior? Being able to present an experimental design and understand its pros and cons.
Prerequisite knowledge and skills :
Planned learning activities and teaching methods :
Lectures and oral presentation of a personnal theme.
Mode of delivery (face-to-face ; distance-learning) :
...
Recommended or required readings :
The bibliographical research constitutes the first step of this work.
Assessment methods and criteria :
In consultation with the teacher, elaboration of an oral presentation and/or realization of a written report.
Evaluation of the quality of :
  • the definition and presentation of the chosen issue.
  • the definition of the various assessed behavioural and cognitive aspects (taking into account the potential difficulties and pitfalls).
  • putting on the white coat of the researcher, the ability to formulate an experimental strategy.
Work placement(s) :
Organizational remarks :
The deadlines for the written report delivery and/or for the oral presentation will be defined with the students.
Contacts :
Ferrara André (04/366.22.32 - a.ferrara@ulg.ac.be ).