PLMEL-Electrophysiology of Language

Module Provider: Clinical Language Sciences
Number of credits: 10 [5 ECTS credits]
Level:7
Terms in which taught: Autumn term module
Pre-requisites:
Non-modular pre-requisites:
Co-requisites:
Modules excluded:
Current from: 2019/0

Email: d.o.fryer@reading.ac.uk

Type of module:

Summary module description:
This module introduces students to Event Related Brain Potential recording (ERP) and their use in investigations of language processing in typical and atypical populations.

Aims:
This module will provide an introduction to the basic methodology of Event Related Brain Potential recording (ERP) and survey the basic results from electroencephalographic investigations of language processing in typical and atypical populations. Students will examine contemporary research covering a range of research areas and gain familiarity with the research methods through tutorials.

Assessable learning outcomes:

At the end of the module, students should be able to:

1. Describe the basic steps involved in EEG/ERP recording


2. Present the design of a standard ERP paradigm


3. Recognise and describe the fundamental ERP components associated with language processing events


4. Discuss processing theories associated with the time course of ERP events


5. Critically evaluate language processing claims based on EEG/ERP observations


6. Design their own language-related electrophysiological experiment

Students enrolled on PLMEL will submit a research proposal.  They will be expected to identify and motivate a research question, propose a research protocol to address the question and explain how the approach will work, what subjects will be used, what kind of data will be collected and how it will analysed and interpreted.

Additional outcomes:
The module also aims to give students awareness of contrasting research methodologies, specifically steady state versus event related phenomena, group versus single case investigations and the strengths and weaknesses of differing empirical paradigms.

Outline content:

The course will start with a basic review of the physiology of the brain and the phenomena underlying cortical activation. The basic science of electroencephalographic recording will be covered with reference to complementary methods of brain activity measurement, i.e PET, MEG, fMRI and NIRS. The contrast between EEG and ERP investigations will be discussed and basic investigative paradigms for these approaches will be presented. The concept of event related potentials will be examined in some detail including latency, amplitude and duration effects and the application of these notions to investigations of language related phenomena will be surveyed. Word and sentence level paradigms will be presented and models of language processing that take into account the temporal phenomena revealed by ERP investigations will considered. Students will also visit the ERP laboratory and view a mock recording.

Brief description of teaching and learning methods:

Lectures based on specified research and review papers. The lectures are interactive and students are expected, where necessary, to have read highlighted papers before the lecture so that they can contribute to the discussion and evaluation of the accounts given.

Summative assessment- Examinations:

Summative assessment- Coursework and in-class tests:

Students will submit a 2500 word proposal for an original ERP study.

Formative assessment methods:

Penalties for late submission:
Penalties for late submission on this module are in accordance with the University policy. Please refer to page 5 of the Postgraduate Guide to Assessment for further information: http://www.reading.ac.uk/internal/exams/student/exa-guidePG.aspx

Assessment requirements for a pass:
A mark of 50%.

Reassessment arrangements:

Re-submission of coursework by August.

Additional Costs (specified where applicable):
1) Required text books:
2) Specialist equipment or materials:
3) Specialist clothing, footwear or headgear:
4) Printing and binding:
5) Computers and devices with a particular specification:
6) Travel, accommodation and subsistence:

Last updated: 10 April 2019