https://studiegids.vu.nl/en/courses/2025-2026/P_MSEMCNSAfter this course, the studentcan describe central contemporary debates in cognitive neurosciencecan explain, critically evaluate, and present the main ideas in these debates, their strengths and weaknesses, methodological implications and empirical supportcan apply these ideas to research findings and clinical conditions and to design new experimentscan formulate ideas about, and discuss how the field of cognitive neuroscience should progressThis is an advanced course that presents recent developments in the field of cognitive neuroscience, with a focus on overarching ideas. Why do we have a brain to begin with? What is the relationship between cognition and action? Can psychiatric disorders be reduced to brain dysfunction? And can artificial systems ever truly think and learn like humans? The course provides an overview of important cognitive and neuroscientific debates with a focus on main influential theories, their strengths and weaknesses, their methodological implications and their empirical support. We will also explore what are important future directions for the field of cognitive neuroscience.Lectures, literature study, group assignments, and discussions.Group assignments (30%) and final exam (70%). Both the exam and the assignments (average) will have to be graded with at least a 5.5 to pass the course.Scientific articles. The list of articles will be announced on canvas (annually updated).The requirement to participate is the completion of the basic Cognitive Neuroscience and Neuropsychology course. Alternatively, students may study the required literature by self-study.