CE225-5-AU-CO:
Neuroimaging and Brain Stimulation Technologies

The details
2024/25
Computer Science and Electronic Engineering (School of)
Colchester Campus
Autumn
Undergraduate: Level 5
Current
Thursday 03 October 2024
Friday 13 December 2024
15
17 April 2024

 

Requisites for this module
CE151 and CE171
(none)
(none)
(none)

 

CE246, CE345

Key module for

BENGH169 Neural Engineering with Psychology,
BENGH170 Neural Engineering with Psychology (including Placement Year),
BENGH171 Neural Engineering with Psychology (including Year Abroad),
BENGH172 Neural Engineering with Psychology (Including Foundation Year),
BSC H167 Neural Technology with Psychology,
BSC H168 Neural Technology with Psychology (including Year Abroad),
BSC H176 Neural Technology with Psychology (including Placement Year)

Module description

The aim of this module is for the student to become familiar with most of the present-day neuroimaging and neuro-stimulation methods used in neuroscience and neural engineering and to provide practical experience of applying some of these methodologies, including interpreting neuroimaging data.

Module aims

The aims of this module are::



  • To introduce students to the main neuroimaging and brain stimulation technologies used in Neural Engineering,

  • To enable students to develop an understanding of the fundamental principles of such technologies,

  • To enable students to acquire a basic practical experience on how to apply a subset of such techniques,

  • To enable students to analyse and interpret brain signals acquired through a subset of neuroimaging technologies,

  • To provide students with an understanding of the advantages and limitations of such techniques.

Module learning outcomes

By the end of this module, students will be expected to be able to:



  1. Understand the relationships between different neuroimaging and stimulation technologies as well as their advantages and limitations,

  2. Interpret the data from a subset of neuroimaging technologies,

  3. Understand which features of brain activity each neuroimaging technology can measure,

  4. Understand in which ways brain stimulation technologies affect brain activity,

  5. Have a practical understanding of how to apply a subset of neuroimaging and brain stimulation technologies.

Module information

Comprehensive introduction to the following neuro-imaging techniques, including basic principles, type of neural activity being recorded, advantages/disadvantages and differences:



  • Electroencephalography (EEG)

  • Functional near infra-red spectroscopy (fNIRS)

  • Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI) Introduction to the following neuro-stimulation techniques, including basic principles, type of neural activity being affected, advantages/disadvantages and differences

  • Transcranial magnetic (TMS) and electrical (tES) stimulation Theoretical and hands-on experience with interpretation of brain-imaging data through visualisation and analysis techniques.

Learning and teaching methods

This module will be delivered via:

  • One 2-hour lecture each week.
  • One 2-hour practical laboratory each week.

In some of the laboratory sessions students will visualise and analyse brain-imaging data using software developed at Essex, standard tools, and potentially also specialised Python or Matlab packages. In other sessions the students will make use of the facilities available in the Essex BCI-NE laboratory to gain practical experience with a subset of the available brain-stimulation and neuro-imaging technologies.

Bibliography

(none)

Assessment items, weightings and deadlines

Coursework / exam Description Deadline Coursework weighting
Coursework   Brain Imaging Analysis Report    100% 
Exam  Main exam: In-Person, Open Book (Restricted), 120 minutes during Summer (Main Period) 
Exam  Reassessment Main exam: In-Person, Open Book (Restricted), 120 minutes during September (Reassessment Period) 

Exam format definitions

  • Remote, open book: Your exam will take place remotely via an online learning platform. You may refer to any physical or electronic materials during the exam.
  • In-person, open book: Your exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may refer to any physical materials such as paper study notes or a textbook during the exam. Electronic devices may not be used in the exam.
  • In-person, open book (restricted): The exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may refer only to specific physical materials such as a named textbook during the exam. Permitted materials will be specified by your department. Electronic devices may not be used in the exam.
  • In-person, closed book: The exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may not refer to any physical materials or electronic devices during the exam. There may be times when a paper dictionary, for example, may be permitted in an otherwise closed book exam. Any exceptions will be specified by your department.

Your department will provide further guidance before your exams.

Overall assessment

Coursework Exam
40% 60%

Reassessment

Coursework Exam
40% 60%
Module supervisor and teaching staff
Dr Sebastian Halder, email: s.halder@essex.ac.uk.
Dr Sebastian Halder
School Office, email: csee-schooloffice (non-Essex users should add @essex.ac.uk to create full e-mail address), Telephone 01206 872770

 

Availability
No
No
No

External examiner

No external examiner information available for this module.
Resources
Available via Moodle
No lecture recording information available for this module.

 

Further information

Disclaimer: The University makes every effort to ensure that this information on its Module Directory is accurate and up-to-date. Exceptionally it can be necessary to make changes, for example to programmes, modules, facilities or fees. Examples of such reasons might include a change of law or regulatory requirements, industrial action, lack of demand, departure of key personnel, change in government policy, or withdrawal/reduction of funding. Changes to modules may for example consist of variations to the content and method of delivery or assessment of modules and other services, to discontinue modules and other services and to merge or combine modules. The University will endeavour to keep such changes to a minimum, and will also keep students informed appropriately by updating our programme specifications and module directory.

The full Procedures, Rules and Regulations of the University governing how it operates are set out in the Charter, Statutes and Ordinances and in the University Regulations, Policy and Procedures.