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Course Outline

MHN706 Neurocognition and Mental Health

Course Coordinator:Sophie Andrews (sandrews1@usc.edu.au) School:School of Health - Psychology

2025Semester 2

Online

 Online You can do this course without coming onto campus, unless your program has specified a mandatory onsite requirement.

Please go to unisc.edu.au for up to date information on the
teaching sessions and campuses where this course is usually offered.

What is this course about?

Description

Neurocognition is the understanding of how thinking skills, such as attention, memory and decision making, are specifically linked to underlying brain regions, networks and processes. Thus, neurocognition has been utilised to better understand the functional impacts of various mental illnesses, including in their very early stages. In this course you will learn how a diverse range of cognitive functions, such as affective regulation, metacognition and social cognition, play key roles in current mental health research and how these measures provide insights into the underlying neurobiology.

How will this course be delivered?

Activity Hours Beginning Week Frequency
Online
Online – The online activities will include a variety of asynchronous, interactive learning materials, and options for lecturer and peer to peer collaborations, and lecturer and peer zoom drop-ins. 3hrs Week 1 13 times

Course Topics

  • What is neurocognition?
  • Neuropsychological assessment and factors impacting neurocognitive performance
  • Neurocognition and its role in clinical research
  • Neurocognition in a range of mental health disorders
  • Cognitive therapies
  • Current topical issues in neurocognition

What level is this course?

700 Level (Specialised)

Demonstrating a specialised body of knowledge and set of skills for professional practice or further learning. Advanced application of knowledge and skills in unfamiliar contexts.

What is the unit value of this course?

12 units

How does this course contribute to my learning?

Course Learning Outcomes On successful completion of this course, you should be able to... Graduate Qualities Completing these tasks successfully will contribute to you becoming...
1 Identify most recent theories on how cognitive functions and domains specifically link to underlying brain regions, networks and processes. Knowledgeable
2 Justify the most appropriate use of neurocognitive intervention by differentiating and evaluating current neurocognitive treatment approaches in a mental health population. Creative and critical thinker
3 Evaluate and justify recent research and research methodology, assessing the effectiveness of neurocognitive interventions in the context of mental health and proposing implications for future directions. Engaged
4 Articulate evidence and conclusions in an appropriate scholarly writing style. Empowered

Am I eligible to enrol in this course?

Refer to the UniSC Glossary of terms for definitions of “pre-requisites, co-requisites and anti-requisites”.

Pre-requisites

Enrolled in Program AR602 or AR706

Co-requisites

Not applicable

Anti-requisites

Not applicable

Specific assumed prior knowledge and skills (where applicable)

Not applicable

Microcredential Information

Not applicable

How am I going to be assessed?

Grading Scale

Standard Grading (GRD)

High Distinction (HD), Distinction (DN), Credit (CR), Pass (PS), Fail (FL).

Details of early feedback on progress

You will be provided with multiple opportunities to gain early formative feedback relevant to your first assessment task, by completing the interactive self-check questions incorporated into your weekly online modules and learning materials.

Assessment tasks

Delivery mode Task No. Assessment Product Individual or Group Weighting % What is the duration / length? When should I submit? Where should I submit it?
All 1 Examination - not Centrally Scheduled Individual 25% 
75 mins
 Week 5 Online Submission
All 2 Portfolio Individual 35% 
4 x 500 words (500 words for each Block 2 module)
 Week 10 Online Assignment Submission with plagiarism check
All 3 Literature Review (or component) Individual 40% 
2500 words
 Exam Period Online Assignment Submission with plagiarism check
All - Assessment Task 1:Online open book exam
Goal: 
To goal is to identify recent theories on how cognitive functions and domains specifically link to underlying brain regions, networks and processes.
Product: Examination - not Centrally Scheduled
Authorship Statement:
Format: 
You will respond online to a series of questions which will cover the learning materials from the first block (modules 1-5) of this course. This online exam will consist of 50 questions ranging from multiple choice, fill in the blank, true or false and short answer questions (practice questions will be provided).
Criteria:
No. Learning Outcome assessed
1 
Identification of cognitive functions and their links to underlying brain regions, networks and processes.
 1
2 
Identification of cognitive domains and their links to underlying brain regions, networks and processes.
 1
Generic Skills: 
Problem solving, Information literacy
All - Assessment Task 2:Cognitive domains review summaries
Goal: 
The goal is to identify and differentiate between various cognitive functions and domains and their relevance, as the basis for justifying different cognitive interventions for specific mental health populations.
Product: Portfolio
Authorship Statement:
Format: 
You will write a short review summary relevant to each population covered in each module of Block 2, justifying a cognitive intervention that is relevant and why, in line with the guidelines provided and written for a professional audience.
Criteria:
No. Learning Outcome assessed
1 
Identification of relevant cognitive functions and domains.
 1
2 
Differentiation of cognitive domains and relevant interventions between different populations.
 1 2
3 
Identification of cognitive functions and domains specifically linked to underlying brain regions to justify the most appropriate neurocognitive intervention for a specific population.
 1 2
4 
Articulation of evidence and conclusions in an appropriate scholarly writing style.
 4
Generic Skills: 
Problem solving, Information literacy
All - Assessment Task 3:Critical literature review
Goal: 
The goal is to evaluate and critically engage with research and research methodology in the context of neurocognitive interventions for mental health.
Product: Literature Review (or component)
Authorship Statement:
Format: 
You will refer to original research articles using a specific neurocognitive intervention to write a literature review for an academic audience, according to the guidelines provided. Your literature review will critical evaluate the literature including from a methodological perspective to determine the effectiveness of the chosen intervention, as well as consider the implications for research, and propose future research directions.
Criteria:
No. Learning Outcome assessed
1 
Evaluation of current neurocognitive intervention research including methodology
 3
2 
Assessment of effectiveness of neurocognitive interventions.
 3
3 
Proposal of new or innovative ideas for future research.
 1 3
4 
Articulation of evidence and conclusions in an appropriate scholarly writing style.
 4
Generic Skills: 
Communication, Information literacy

Directed study hours

A 12-unit course will have total of 150 learning hours which will include directed study hours (including online if required), self-directed learning and completion of assessable tasks. Student workload is calculated at 12.5 learning hours per one unit.

What resources do I need to undertake this course?

Please note: Course information, including specific information of recommended readings, learning activities, resources, weekly readings, etc. are available on the course Canvas site– Please log in as soon as possible.

Prescribed text(s) or course reader

You need regular access to the resource(s) below. Many texts are available as ebooks through the Library at no additional cost.

Required? Author Year Title Edition Publisher
Required n/a 0 No prescribed text. Key readings will be provided each week through the library course readings. n/a n/a

Specific requirements

All work submitted for assessment is to be word processed and submitted electronically. It is expected that students will have ready access to a computer with common productivity software and reliable Internet access. Students will be able to participate in video conferencing, and therefore it is recommended to have computer capabilities to join these sessions (e.g. webcam, microphone).

How are risks managed in this course?

Health and safety risks for this course have been assessed as low. It is your responsibility to review course material, search online, discuss with lecturers and peers and understand the health and safety risks associated with your specific course of study and to familiarise yourself with the University’s general health and safety principles by reviewing the online induction training for students, and following the instructions of the University staff.

What administrative information is relevant to this course?

Assessment: Academic Integrity

Academic integrity is the ethical standard of university participation. It ensures that students graduate as a result of proving they are competent in their discipline. This is integral in maintaining the value of academic qualifications. Each industry has expectations and standards of the skills and knowledge within that discipline and these are reflected in assessment.

Academic integrity means that you do not engage in any activity that is considered to be academic fraud; including plagiarism, collusion or outsourcing any part of any assessment item to any other person. You are expected to be honest and ethical by completing all work yourself and indicating in your work which ideas and information were developed by you and which were taken from others. You cannot provide your assessment work to others. You are also expected to provide evidence of wide and critical reading, usually by using appropriate academic references.

In order to minimise incidents of academic fraud, this course may require that some of its assessment tasks, when submitted to Canvas, are electronically checked through Turnitin. This software allows for text comparisons to be made between your submitted assessment item and all other work to which Turnitin has access.

Assessment: Additional Requirements

Eligibility for Supplementary Assessment

Your eligibility for supplementary assessment in a course is dependent of the following conditions applying:
(a) The final mark is in the percentage range 47% to 49.4%; and
(b) The course is graded using the Standard Grading scale

Assessment: Submission penalties

Late submissions may be penalised up to and including the following maximum percentage of the assessment task’s identified value, with weekdays and weekends included in the calculation of days late:
(a) One day: deduct 5%;
(b) Two days: deduct 10%;
(c) Three days: deduct 20%;
(d) Four days: deduct 40%;
(e) Five days: deduct 60%;
(f) Six days: deduct 80%;
(g) Seven days: A result of zero is awarded for the assessment task.

The following penalties will apply for a late submission for an online examination:
Less than 15 minutes: No penalty
From 15 minutes to 30 minutes: 20% penalty
More than 30 minutes: 100% penalty

Links to relevant University policy and procedures

For more information on Academic Learning & Teaching categories including:

  • Assessment: Courses and Coursework Programs
  • Review of Assessment and Final Grades
  • Supplementary Assessment
  • Central Examinations
  • Deferred Examinations
  • Student Conduct
  • Students with a Disability

For more information, visit https://www.usc.edu.au/explore/policies-and-procedures#academic-learning-and-teaching

Student Charter

UniSC is committed to excellence in teaching, research and engagement in an environment that is inclusive, inspiring, safe and respectful. The Student Charter sets out what students can expect from the University, and what in turn is expected of students, to achieve these outcomes.

General Enquiries

  • In person:
    • UniSC Sunshine Coast - Student Central, Ground Floor, Building C, 90 Sippy Downs Drive, Sippy Downs
    • UniSC Moreton Bay - Service Centre, Ground Floor, Foundation Building, Gympie Road, Petrie
    • UniSC SouthBank - Student Central, Building A4 (SW1), 52 Merivale Street, South Brisbane
    • UniSC Gympie - Student Central, 71 Cartwright Road, Gympie
    • UniSC Fraser Coast - Student Central, Student Central, Building A, 161 Old Maryborough Rd, Hervey Bay
    • UniSC Caboolture - Student Central, Level 1 Building J, Cnr Manley and Tallon Street, Caboolture
  • Tel:+61 7 5430 2890
  • Email:studentcentral@usc.edu.au
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