| Duration | Language | Campus |
| 2 Years (Evening) | English | NAPE Campus |
This internationally accredited Europe-Asia programme offers a multidisciplinary approach where students learn about modern concepts and theories and are trained in advanced methods in the emerging field of neuroscience and behaviour.
The Master of Neuroscience and Behaviour is an internationally accredited programme jointly offered by the University of Saint Joseph (USJ) in Macao and Instituto Universitário de Ciências Psicológicas, Sociais e da Vida (ISPA-IU), in Portugal. The first year of studies takes place in Macao and in the second year students will take two advanced modules in Portugal and develop their dissertation either in Portugal or in Macao. Upon its successful conclusion, students will be awarded with a joint diploma issued by the two institutions. The team of lecturers is multidisciplinary and will provide a broad formation in the emerging field of Neuroscience and Behaviour. The programme includes modules on the fundamentals of neuroscience (Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience; Functional and Comparative Neuroanatomy; Social Neuroscience; Cognitive Neuroscience), on neuroscience methods (Research Methods in Neuroscience and Behaviour), and on the clinical and transdisciplinary applications of neuroscience (Clinical Neuroscience; Neuroeconomics; Neuroscience Applied to Education; Advanced Seminars in Human Neuroscience; Advanced Seminars in Comparative Neuroscience). During the second year, students will develop a dissertation, focused on a specific topic on fundamental or applied neuroscience. Overall, this innovative programme aims to provide students with solid training in a dynamic research field that has extensive applications through a rich, multidisciplinary, and international experience.
The programme coordinator are David Gonçalves from USJ and Rui Oliveira from ISPA- IU.
During the two years of evening course work, Master of Neuroscience and Behaviour students hold full-time student status.
- Students obtain a solid formation in theories and concepts in neuroscience and behaviour;
- Students gain hands-on experience in advanced methods for the study of the nervous system and behaviour;
- Students learn about the clinical and transdisciplinary applications of neuroscience;
- Students have a multidisciplinary and international experience and will be awarded with a Europe-Macao joint diploma.
- Health sector
- Biomedical industry
- Research and academia
- Marketing and data science
- Education
- Bachelor degree or equivalent in Health Sciences, Biological Sciences, Physical Science, Mathematics, Computer Science, Engineering, Management, Business, Education and other fields;
- Professionals from any sector that would like to specialize in neuroscience and behaviour.
Admissions Information >
Study plan & description of modules
For the programme’s government approval [in Chinese and Portuguese] click here.
Please click on any specific module below to see its description.
Modules
Year 1
In this academic unit the molecular and cellular functional bases of the nervous system underlying the expression of behaviour will be initially presented to the students. The types of cells of the nervous system and molecular basis of neuronal communication will be described. The modulation of neuronal communication will be discussed in order to understand how internal and external agents can influence sensorial input and motor output. The molecular and cellular basis of neuronal and behavioural plasticity will also be discussed. Traditional and current techniques for the study of the molecular and cellular basis of the nervous system will be described.
The following content will be covered:
1. Cellular basis of the nervous system: neurons and glial cells;
2. Molecular basis of the nervous system: neurotransmitters and membrane proteins;
3. Electrophysiology: resting and action potential;
4. Synaptic transmission;
5. Neuromodulation;
6. The brain at work, neuronal networks;
7. Neuronal plasticity and behavioural plasticity;
8. Techniques for the molecular and cellular cha racterization of the nervous system;
9. Techniques for the molecular and cellular functional manipulation of the nervous system.
This curricular unit will provide an overall perspective on the anatomical and functional organization of the nervous system, allowing the students to compare the most widely used animal model species in experimental neuroscience.
The following topics will be presented:
Functional Neuroanatomy
1. General organization of human nervous system
1.1. Human Central and Peripheral Nervous System
1.2. Ventricular system
1.3. Cerebral circulation
2. Brain structures: cortical and subcortical
3. Sensory processing: somatic sensory system and vision.
4. Movement planning and control and major motor pathways
4.1. Cerebellum and basal ganglia
5. Limbic system.
Comparative neuroanatomy
1. Evolution and phylogeny in Animal nervous system
2. Comparative neuroanatomy in vertebrates
3. Brain evolution and adaptation. Intelligence and behavior.
4. Animal models in behavioral neurosciences. Limitations a nd advantages of several models.
In this curricular unit the students will enhance their knowledge about the relationship between the nervous system and behaviour. The module will start with an historical perspective about the research in Cognitive Neuroscience, followed by an explanation on the organization and cognitive functioning of the nervous system in various vertebrate models with a focus on the human brain. The main models to explain normal cognitive functioning will be presented, as well as case studies about cognitive impairments.
The following main themes will be covered:
1. Historical foundations of Cognitive Neuroscience
2. Organization and cognitive functioning of the nervous system: evolutionary perspective
3. Experimental techniques in Cognitive Neuroscience
4. Cortical organization and specialization of the hemispheres
5. The occipital and temporal lobes
6. The parental and frontal lobes
7. Memory
8. Sensorial reception and processing
9. Oral language
10. Written language and reading
11. Consciousness
This curricular unit aims to provide an initial explanation about the scientific method and experimental design, followed by a description of the methodologies used in Fundamental Neuroscience, Cognitive Neuroscience and Behaviour, considering both classic and current approaches. The module will cover the main characteristics; limitations and applications of the methods explained and several case studies. The different ways to analyse data will be also explained and discussed.
The following topics will be covered:
1. The scientific method and how to create good research questions
2. Classic and current methods in Neuroscience research
3. Classic and current methods in Behavioral research
4. Animal research models – advantages, limitations and ethics
5. Electrophysiology methods in Fundamental and Applied Neuroscience
6. Neuroimaging methods in Fundamental and Applied Neuroscience
7. Molecular and cell biology research methods applied to Neuroscience research
8. Data analysis and interpretation
Clinical Neuroscience focuses on normal and disturbed behaviour in relation to brain structure and function and how they are affected in congenital, acquired or degenerative brain dysfunction and related neuropsychiatric disorders.
Emphasis will be given to cognitive functions of the brain and how they are affected in neurological and neuropsychiatric conditions.
The following topics will be covered:
Part 1
1. Assessment of cognitive functions
2. Neuropsychiatric Disorders
Part 2
Cognitive assessment, pathology and case-studies:
1. Motor Systems
2. Sensory Systems
3. The cerebral Cortex and Limbic System
4. Higher Functions of the Brain
4.1. Learning and Memory
4.2. Language
4.3. Executive Functions
Social neuroscience lies at the intersection between cognitive neuroscience and social psychology. Inspired by developments over the last 15 years, social neuroscience raises the level of analysis above the individual and advances social and neuroscientific perspectives that elucidate the neural and behavioural bases of social behaviour. Therefore, in this module the following topics will be covered:
What is social neuroscience?
What are the neural bases of being social?
Emotion
The question of ‘empathy’ and its neural grounding.
The perception of action and the understanding of intention.
Functional imaging of the ‘theory of mind’.
How do we map action words?
Language and its neural underpinning.
Oxytocin and social behaviour.
In this curricular unit are presented the main concepts about how the neurosciences researchers are integrating their results with other areas such as economics, management and marketing, with the aim to understand better the decision making process. The module will focus on the most recent advances and trends in the field, but always with a practical and contextualized approach. Besides, new concepts as the integration with new technologies such as IoT and artificial intelligence are going to be discussed.
The following topics will be covered:
Introduction and scope of neuroeconomics;
Tools of neuroeconomics: contextualizing neuroanatomy, neurophysiology and neuroimaging;
Introduction of Brain Models for Decision-Making and Choice;
Introduction to Computational and Statistic Models of Decision-Making;
Subjective Value - What is the brain model behind?
Affective Mechanisms of Decision Making;
Decision-Making: Dual Process Theory - a neuroeconomics perspective;
Decision-Making under risk;
Games and the Brain - influences in neuroeconomics;
Social emotions and the Brain.
Students will be presented with a view of Neuroscience applied to Education. They will learn the importance of cognitive development and the influence of psychological, social and environmental factors on learning. Understanding how the brain develops and learns throughout the different developmental stages, as well as their disorders, will enable the design of educational strategies that address cognitive variation across different settings and age groups.
Within this context, the following topics will be considered:
1. An introduction to educational neuroscience;
2. Research methods in educational neuroscience;
3. Learning theories and the brain;
4. Memory;
5. Executive mechanisms and self regulation;
6. Emotion and cognition;
7. Intelligence;
8. Social development;
9. Language development;
10. Literacy development and dyslexia.
Year 2
This advanced seminar will expose students to the latest studies, theories and concepts on the field of Human Cognition covering aspects known about brain mechanisms underlying high-order psychological processes in humans, its development and their disruption by ageing, lesions or genetic factors. The module will direct students to search for relevant and curated information on specific topics related with human neuroscience and stimulate them to review,
organize, synthesize and communicate their conclusions.
Topics that will be covered:
1. Brain and Cognition
2. Genetics and Brain
3. Development and Brain
4. Aging and Brain
5. Neuroplasticity and learning
6. Neuroplasticity and rehabilitation
7. Brain, environment and stimulation
8. Imaging the Brain
9. The Default-Mode Network
10. Human Connectome
Prior learned concepts will be united in a holistic and comparative perspective. With a high degree of autonomy, students will investigate how variation across species in behaviour rely on common molecular and organisational features of the nervous system and how divergent evolutionary histories result in behavioural adaptations and changes in the underlying neurobiological mechanisms. The study of proximate mechanisms of neuro and behavioural
plasticity for the understanding of the evolution of behaviour and cognition will also be addressed.
This unit will cover the topics:
- Reviewing the building blocks of behaviour and cognition;
- Comparative neuroanatomy; evolution of the nervous system;
- Species variation in cognition and “intelligence”;
- The eco-evo-devo approach to behaviour and cognition;
- Proximate mechanisms of behavioural variation and their evolutionary implications.
The aim of the dissertation component is to provide students with the mastery of research skills that allows them to place and test hypothesis in Neurosciences and Behavior with a high degree of autonomy. Under supervision but given a high degree of autonomy, students will further develop the training obtained in the previous curricular units to propose original and testable hypotheses, design experiments to test these hypotheses, collect, analyse and interpret results and contextualize findings in a broader conceptual field.
