PhD in Psychology - Cognitive Neuroscience Psychology in Waterloo Canada | University of Waterloo

Those enrolled in the Cognitive Neuroscience Psychology curriculum will acquire diverse hands-on experience in performing studies and sharing their discoveries. This practical knowledge comes from laboratory work on thesis projects and other research initiatives, complemented by coursework led by our professors. For the Cognitive Neuroscience track, applicants usually begin with the MA program, with the anticipation of progressing to the PhD. Cognitive neuroscience examines the biological foundations of mental processes. Neuroscience investigates how neurons function and interact to create the intricate networks forming our brain. Meanwhile, cognitive science employs psychological experiments and computational models to analyze complex mental functions like reasoning and communication. Cognitive neuroscience connects these fields by linking mental operations to specific brain structures and neural mechanisms.

Our Cognitive Neuroscience graduate students employ numerous investigative methods. Event-related potentials (ERP) help track rapid neural responses during information processing (such as facial recognition). Functional MRI (fMRI) reveals which brain regions become active during specific tasks or information processing. Virtual reality systems aid in studying spatial navigation. Cognitive assessments help examine brain injury patients and track healthy brain aging. These techniques also investigate mental states like mind-wandering and compare neurological functioning across populations (from compulsive gamblers to individuals with synesthesia).