Cognition, Brain & Behavior

Chair: Dr. Eric Ruthruff

Faculty and students in the CBB concentration investigate the fundamental features of cognition, brain, and behavior with cutting-edge interdisciplinary approaches, including:

  • Cognitive neuroscience (MRI, EEG, TMS, tDCS, MEG)
  • Behavioral neuroscience (neuropharmacology, viral-mediated gene transfer, electrophysiology, and behavioral genetics)
  • Cognitive science (performance, learning, statistical modeling)

CBB facilities include the entire second floor of Logan Hall, with multiple state-of-the-art suites for behavioral neuroscience and the newly created Psychology Clinical Neuroscience Center, which includes multi-modal imaging equipment for communal use.  The integration of these resources demonstrates our area's dedication to a cross-disciplinary collaborative approach to understanding cognition, brain, and behavior (a "bench-to-bedside" approach).

CBB faculty teach an extensive variety of courses, including interactive labs, to facilitate student expertise in these methods.  Students enter under a faculty mentor and begin active research in the first year.  See faculty profiles below for specific areas of expertise.

Program Requirements

All CBB students are required to complete the following three core courses in the CBB area (3 credits each):

  • PSY 540 Biological Bases of Behavior
  • PSY 541 Introduction to Functional Neuroimaging
  • PSY 561: Cognitive Processes I

In addition, all CBB students will participate in a literature discussion section (Psych 641) each semester.

Psych 641: Seminar in Cognition, Brain, and Behavior (2 credits) (Staff)

All CBB students will be required to select additional elective courses (3 credits each) from the CBB area to satisfy a total credit requirement (including core courses, but not including PSY 641) of 15 units. The choice of electives and substitution of any alternative elective courses must be approved by the CBB faculty.

Alcohol Research Training in Neuroscience funding is available through a T32 grant from the National Institutes of Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism.  For information, please click here:  http://neurosciences.unm.edu/artn/index.html

Faculty in the CBB Program

Psychology Clinical Neurosciences Center

The Mission of the UNM Psychology Clinical neuroscience Center (PCNC) is the development of new knowledge regarding how normal and abnormal behavior and cognition arise from the brain. This is accomplished by a balanced program of research and teaching, supporting the academic mission of the Department and the advancement of students and faculty, facilitating alliances of investigators with common research interests, identifying and supporting opportunities for Psychology faculty recruitment, facilitating the acquisition of new extramurally funded projects and maintenance of existing projects, and facilitating the acquisition, maintenance and supervision of PCNC core services including the application of brain imaging and stimulation technologies.

For more detailed information, please visit the PCNC website (pcnc.unm.edu).