Master Sciences cognitives - Parcours : Neurosciences Cognitives / Cognitive Neuroscience

General cog-SUP organization

The master’s student must register to one of the tracks. These tracks ensure the acquisition of genuine expertise in the concepts, methods, and techniques specific to each discipline, enhancing the clarity of skills associated with the diploma. The program establishes a common cultural foundation from the first year (M1) through a core curriculum and introductory courses to the different disciplines. In the second year (M2), the majority of courses are fully interdisciplinary and open to students from all tracks. Our goal is to cultivate cognitivists equipped with both robust disciplinary expertise and a broad interdisciplinary culture, essential elements for fostering meaningful collaboration across disciplines.

Specific to the track Cognitive Neuroscience

The central question addressed in the cog-SUP cognitive neuroscience track is the link between the biological activity of the nervous system and cognitive and mental activity. In addition to the master’s core curriculum, students in this track acquire a solid grasp of concepts and methods in experimental psychology, which is essential for experimentation in cognitive neuroscience, a solid grasp of concepts and methods in neuropsychology (the study of cognitive deficits in relation to neural lesions or pathologies), and advanced mastery of the full range of imaging and recording techniques used in cognitive neuroscience, from electrophysiology to functional MRI. The curriculum is primarily focused on human cognition but also provides an opportunity to explore approaches using animal models.

Beyond mastering the methods, the topics cover a very wide range of cognitive functions, encompassing their normal, pathological and developmental aspects. Students complete a research internship in the laboratory during both the first (M1) and second (M2) years of the program. In M1, the internship is carried out on a weekly basis (with a minimum of one day per week over one semester). In M2, it takes place throughout the entire second semester, enabling opportunities for internships abroad.

On completion of this program, students will be able to understand and interpret the scientific literature in cognitive neuroscience, carry out a literature review, develop an experimental protocol, acquire and analyze neuroimaging data and write a scientific article. These skills mainly pave the way for pursuing a PhD, but can also be put to good use in other career paths where a mastery of cognitive neuroscience and scientific methods are required (public administrations and companies or the private sector).