Course Syllabus

                                 

ATTENTION : THE SYLLABUS MIGHT STILL BE SUBJECT TO CHANGES!

 

 

Semester & Location:

Spring 2021 - DIS Copenhagen

Type & Credits:

Core Course - 3 credits

Major Disciplines:

Neuroscience, Psychology

Faculty Members:

Jes Buster Madsen - jesbustermadsen@gmail.com 

Program Director:

Helle Rytkønen - hry@dis.dk 

Program Contact:

psy.cns@dis.dk 

Time:

Tuesday 19.00 - 20.20 & Friday 14.30 - 15.50

 

Description of Course

Prerequisites: One course in neuroscience, physiological psychology, or biological psychology at university level.

How do we understand creativity and the brain? This course asks you to explore and debate human creativity through neurobiological, cognitive, and psychological perspectives. Main topics include discussions of the definition of creativity; psychological and cognitive profiles of creative individuals; functional neuroanatomy; the neurochemistry of the creative processes; the neural correlates of creative thought; cognitive processes and lastly, cognitive strategies for optimizing creative output. Study tours within Denmark and Europe will provide the experiential foundation for further understanding theory and research in the field.

Learning Objectives

By the end of this course, students should demonstrate a clear understanding of the complexity of creativity, brain-related functions, individual differences and the challenges inherent in the neuroscientific approach. Students should be able to identify central constructs, theories, models, and research in the understanding of creativity from a neurocognitive perspective.

Faculty

Jes Buster Madsen, Cand. Mag.

Master in Cognition and Communication (University of Copenhagen, 2015), Bachelor in Philosophy (University of Copenhagen, 2013). Author of the novels Projekt Luftballon & Lilla Hjerte.

Specialization: Cognitive neuroscience and Creative Writing. With DIS since 2018.

Approach to Teaching

A key component of this course is student participation and discussion. It is thought, that students should take responsibility for their own learning, and that discussion and debate is the cornerstone of a good learning environment.

Each class is structured and will include aspects such as: A) short exercises, which will often be practical in nature, to activate and engage the students. B) mini-lectures, where bullet points and essential ideas are explained to the class. C) group-work and discussions, in order to summarize and understand the day’s readings.

Expectations of the Students

This course emphasizes collaborative learning. This involves in-class group activities and frequent discussion among peers. It is expected that all students engage actively in class.

 

Academic Regulations  

Disability and Resource Statement

Any student who has a need for accommodation based on the impact of a disability should contact Academic Support (acadsupp@dis.dk) to coordinate this.  In order to receive accommodations, students should inform the instructor of approved DIS accommodations within the first week of classes.

Grading

Assignments

Percentages

Attendance & Participation

10%

Oral Midterm Exam

20%

Essay

20%

Final Presentation

30%

Oral Final Exam

20%

 

Evaluation

 

Attendance & Participation: 10%

This class is driven by student participation. The primary character of the class will be exploration of ideas, idea generation, inquiry and discussion. Students must bring to class an inquisitive mind, a willingness to share their thoughts, ideas and questions. Grades will be deducted when readings have not been completed and when participatory efforts are lacking. Please see participation rubric on canvas for specifics. Unexcused and frequent absenteeism will result in a loss of grade.

 

Neuroscience of Creativity Essay: 20%

Due: February 26

Write a 5-page essay (12000 Characters with Spaces) in which you discuss a topic within the Neuroscience of Creativity

It is expected, that you use peer-reviewed articles, and at least one peer-reviewed Neuroscience article.

Expected structure of the essay:

  1. Introduction: State the main objective of the essay and present the conclusion reached.
  2. Argument (a): Using the peer-reviewed articles, create an argument, which substantiates and supports the main objective of the essay.
  3. Argument (b): Using the peer-reviewed articles, create an argument, which substantiate and supports the main objective of the essay.
  4. Counter Argument: Using the peer-reviewed articles, device a counterargument, which shows the possible fallibility of Arguments a & b.
  5. Conclusion: Summarize the main points of the essay and suggest possible new directions for future research within the field.

 

Midterm Exam: 20%

Due: March 12

There will be an oral Midterm exam based on the readings and class slides.

There will be a short review and more information as the semester progress

 

Creativity of Neuroscience Presentation & Paper: 30%

Due: April 30

The Creative Presentation and Paper is a individual/group assignment (1-3 students in each).

Each group has to choose an artistic discipline and produce a creative output within that field.

 

  1. Language: Write a 3-page short story or poem.
  2. Music: Compose and record a 3 minute song.
  3. Body: Create and perform a choreagraphy/Stage a short play.
  4. Visual: Draw three pencil drawings, investigating a technique or topic

 

Additionally, each student must write a 4-page (9600 Words with spaces) academic paper, describing and explaining the creative discipline using at least 3 peer-reviewed neuroscience articles.

 

The presentation will be performed at the end of the school year.

 

Presentation will account for 20% of the final grade.

Paper will account for 80% of the final grade.

 

Final Exam: 20%

Due: TBA

There will be a final exam based on the readings and class slides.

It will be a combination of short and long answer questions.

There will be a short review and more information as the semester progress.

 

Field Studies

TBA

 

Study Tours

TBA

 

Literature:

Required Readings:

 

  1. Raymond, S. M. (2017). Neural Foundations of Creativity: A Systematic Review. Rev Colomb Psiquiat. 46(3):187-192.
  2. Kozbelt, A., Beghette, R. A., & Runco, M. A: (2010) Theories of Creativity. The Cambridge Handbook of Creativity. Cambridge: Cambridge University press. P.20-47.
  3. Abraham, Anna - The Neuroscience of Creativity. Cambridge University Press. 2018. Chapter 2: How Can Creativity be Assesed? p.24-38
  1. Beaty, R et. al. (2016) – Creative Cognition and Brain Network Dynamics. Trends Cogn Sci. 20(2): 87-95.
  2. Abraham  A (2010) .  The Neuroscience of Creativity .  Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. Chapter 2-  How can creativity be assessed?  (pp 24-47)
  3. Raichle, M. E. (2008) A Brief history of human brain mapping. Trends in Neurosciences. Vol. 32. N0.2, P.118-126.
  4. Abraham, A. (2013) The Promises and Perils of the Neuroscience of Creativity. Frontiers in Human Neuroscience, Vol.7, Art. 246, p.1-9.
  5. Jung, R. al. (2013) The Structure of Creative Cognition in the Human Brain. Frontiers in Human Neuroscience. Vol.7, Article 330. P.1-13.
  6. Beaty, R. et. al. (2017). Robust Prediction of Individual Creative Ability from Brain Functional Connectivity. PNAS. Vol.115, no.5, p.1087-1092.
  7. Peretz, I. (2006) The Nature of music from a biological perspective. Cognition, 100(1), p. 1-32.
  8. D. M. (2016) Musical Creativity “Revealed” in Brain Structure: Interplay between Motor, Default Mode, and Limbic Networks. Nature. Scientific Reports. 6:20482, p. 1-8.
  9. Trimble, M & Hesdorffer, D. (2017). Music and the Brain: The neuroscience of music and musical appreciation. BJPSYCH International. Vol. 14. Number 2. P.28-30.
  10. Friederici, A. D. (2011) The Brain Basis of Language Processing: From structure to Function.Physiol Rev 91: 1357-1392.
  11. Kaufman, J. C. (2002). Dissecting the Golden Goose: Components of Studying Creative Writers. Creativity Research Journal 14(1): 27-40.
  12. Dietrich, A. (2004). Neurocognitive mechanisms underlying the experience of flow. Conscious Cong. 13(4): 746-61.
  13. Abraham  A (2010) .  The Neuroscience of Creativity .  Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. Chapter 10 Visual  Artistic  Creativity   (pp 226-246)
  14. Laland, K., Wilkins, C., Clayton. (2016) The Evolution of Dance. Current Biology 26, Issue 1, P 5-9.
  15. Schwartz, A. B. (2016). Movement: How The Brain Communicates with the World. Cell, 164(6): 1122-1135.
  16. May, J., et al. (2011) Points in Mental Space: an Interdisciplinary Study of Imagery in Movement Creation. Dance Research, 29 (2), p.404-432.
  17. N. C. (2008). The Relationship between Creativity and Mood Disorders. Dialogues Clin Neurosci. 10(2): 251-255.
  18. Heilman, K.M & Discher, I.S. (2018).  Creativity and the Aging Brain (pp476-492). In R. E. Jung & O. Vartanian (Eds). The Cambridge Handbook of  The Neuroscience of Creativity. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

 

Recommended Readings:

 

  1. https://blogs.scientificamerican.com/beautiful-minds/the-neuroscience-of-creativity-a-q-a-with-anna-abraham/
  2. Abraham, Anna - The Neuroscience of Creativity. Cambridge University Press. 2018.

Chapter 3: Cognitive Explanations of Creativity. p.51-77

  1. Abraham, Anna - The Neuroscience of Creativity. Cambridge University Press. 2018.

Chapter 4: Brain-Based Global explantions of Creativity. p.78-101.

  1. Abraham, Anna - The Neuroscience of Creativity. Cambridge University Press. 2018.

Chapter 6: Neuroscientific Methods in the study of Creativity.  p.126-152

  1. Abraham, Anna - The Neuroscience of Creativity. Cambridge University Press. 2018.

Chapter 7:Unique Problems in the Neuroscientific Study of Creativity. p.155-172

  1. Abraham, Anna - The Neuroscience of Creativity. Cambridge University Press. 2018.

Chapter 8: Musical Creativity p. 173-196

  1. Abraham, Anna - The Neuroscience of Creativity. Cambridge University Press. 2018.

Chapter 8: Musical Creativity p. 173-196

  1. Abraham, Anna - The Neuroscience of Creativity. Cambridge University Press. 2018.

Chapter 9: Literary Creativity p. 200-222

  1. Abraham, Anna - The Neuroscience of Creativity. Cambridge University Press. 2018.

Chapter 9: Literary Creativity p. 200-222

  1. Abraham, Anna - The Neuroscience of Creativity. Cambridge University Press. 2018.

Chapter 11: Kinesthetic Creativity p. 250-272

  1. Abraham, Anna - The Neuroscience of Creativity. Cambridge University Press. 2018.

Chapter 11: Kinesthetic Creativity p. 250-272

 

 

 

 

Course Summary:

Date Details Due