Careers in Cognitive Neuroscience and related fields require familiarity with statistics. Therefore, the Cognitive Neuroscience concentration requires a course in Quantitative Methods (CPSY 0900). CPSY 0900 is a prerequisite for research methods and laboratory courses, so concentrators should plan to take this course by their fourth semester. Students may substitute for CPSY 0900 a comparable statistics course taught in another department, with the approval of a Cognitive Neuroscience concentration advisor. Consult with a concentration advisor for details.  The department does not grant concentration credit for AP Statistics, regardless of score. We strongly recommend fulfilling the statistics requirement as a sophomore.

The goal of these requirements is to provide students with the foundational knowledge across Cognitive Neuroscience. Students are expected to have some background in Psychology, in Neuroscience, and in Computation. The requirements below afford students with the opportunity to gain background in each of these foundational areas and cannot be interchanged.

(A) Students are expected to take two courses that provide them with a foundation in cognition/psychology. The goal of taking courses in this category is to consider general principles of Psychological and Cognitive Science towards the study of Cognitive Neuroscience. The courses below are ones that teach fundamental topics related to Cognitive Neuroscience or that provide foundational knowledge that can be applied to neuroscientific principles and techniques. Cognition, Learning, Perception and Cognitive Neuropsychology are emphasized. Students interested in Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience are encouraged to get a background in Cognitive Development (CPSY 0610), while students interested in Social Neuroscience are encouraged to get a background in Social Psychology (CPSY 0700). However, we do not accept both CPSY 0610 and CPSY S0700, as students interested in both of these topics are recommended to concentrate in psychology 

(B) Students are expected to take one course that provides them with a foundation in neuroscience. The goal of taking a course in this category is to become familiar with the principles of cognitive neuroscience research and methods in one of the foundational domains.

Please note that CPSY 0400 and CPSY 0450 can be used for either the Foundation in Cognition/Psychology or the Foundation in Neuroscience requirement, but not both. That is, if either of these classes are used for the Foundation in Cognition requirement, students must take NEUR 0010 to satisfy Foundations in Neuroscience requirement; if either CPSY 0400 or CPSY 0450 are used for the Foundation in Neuroscience requirement, students cannot use them (or CPSY 0200) to satisfy the Foundations in Cognition/Psychology requirements.

(C) Because the study of Cognitive Neuroscience can focus on computational explanations for the relation between neural processes and behavior, students are required to take one course in programming or computational modeling. 

Electives

The goal of the elective requirement is to construct a curriculum that provides a deeper understanding of Cognitive Neuroscience. Students should take five electives from the CPSY, NEUR, or CSCI departments, of which three must be at the 1000-level. Courses might also come from the APMA, COST or PHP departments (only with permission of concentration advisor). Extra foundation classes can be used as electives. However, students cannot construct a program of study that includes both CPSY 0950 and an introductory CSCI class as part of this requirement. Moreover, students must have at least three electives at the 1000-level. These elective courses must represent a specific coherent program of study, which is discussed with the concentration advisor.

Candidates for Honors in Cognitive Neuroscience must meet all of the requirements of the concentration as described above.  Candidates submit their application for the program in semester 7.  We encourage students to seek out a potential faculty mentor prior to semester 7. Candidates for Honors must have completed the Statistics CPSY 0900 and Research Methods and Design (CPSY 1900, Research Methods CPSY 1901, or laboratory course) requirements before semester 7.   Please refer to the CPSY Honors Program page for detailed information about the specific requirements for the Honors program in Cognitive Neuroscience. 

These are the new requirements approved by CCC effective Fall 2024. For existing concentrators graduating in 2024-25, the prior requirements can be found by selecting the Bulletin archive https://bulletin.brown.edu/archive/2023-24/

Another element in the Cognitive Neuroscience concentration is a course on research methods. Research Methods and Design (CPSY 1900) or Research Methods (CPSY 1901) is the preferred course for fulfilling this requirement. This course builds on the introductory statistics course and exposes students to a variety of topics in the psychological sciences: to empirical methods (e.g., surveys, chronometry, eye tracking, brain imaging), to common designs (e.g., factorial experimental, correlational, longitudinal), to research ethics, and to best practices of literature review. Other CPSY laboratory courses can be used to fulfill the research methods requirement; consult with a Cognitive Neuroscience advisor for lists of approved courses. The research methods requirement should be fulfilled before senior year. 

Foundation

The goal of these requirements is to provide students with the foundational knowledge across Cognitive Neuroscience. Students are expected to have some background in Psychology, in Neuroscience, and in Computation. The requirements below afford students with the opportunity to gain background in each of these foundational areas and cannot be interchanged.

(A) Students are expected to take two courses that provide them with a foundation in cognition/psychology. The goal of taking courses in this category is to consider general principles of Psychological and Cognitive Science towards the study of Cognitive Neuroscience. The courses below are ones that teach fundamental topics related to Cognitive Neuroscience or that provide foundational knowledge that can be applied to neuroscientific principles and techniques. Cognition, Learning, Perception and Cognitive Neuropsychology are emphasized. Students interested in Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience are encouraged to get a background in Cognitive Development (CPSY 0610), while students interested in Social Neuroscience are encouraged to get a background in Social Psychology (CPSY 0700). However, we do not accept both CPSY 0610 and CPSY S0700, as students interested in both of these topics are recommended to concentrate in psychology 

(B) Students are expected to take one course that provides them with a foundation in neuroscience. The goal of taking a course in this category is to become familiar with the principles of cognitive neuroscience research and methods in one of the foundational domains.

Please note that CPSY 0400 and CPSY 0450 can be used for either the Foundation in Cognition/Psychology or the Foundation in Neuroscience requirement, but not both. That is, if either of these classes are used for the Foundation in Cognition requirement, students must take NEUR 0010 to satisfy Foundations in Neuroscience requirement; if either CPSY 0400 or CPSY 0450 of these classes are used for Foundation in Neuroscience, students cannot use them (or CPSY 0200) to satisfy the Foundations in Cognition/Psychology requirements.

(C) Because the study of Cognitive Neuroscience can focus on computational explanations for the relation between neural processes and behavior, students are required to take one course in programming or computational modeling. 

Electives

The goal of the elective requirement is to construct a curriculum that provides a deeper understanding of Cognitive Neuroscience. Students should take five electives from the CPSY, NEUR, or CSCI departments, of which three must be at the 1000-level. Courses might also come from the APMA, COST or PHP departments (only with permission of concentration advisor). Extra foundation classes can be used as electives. However, students cannot construct a program of study that includes both CLPS950 and an introductory CSCI class as part of this requirement. Moreover, students must have at least three electives at the 1000-level. These elective courses must represent a specific coherent program of study, which is discussed with the concentration advisor.