Neuroscience and Cognition

Neuroscience and cognition are at the forefront of scientific research worldwide. The primary goals of basic research in these fields are to gain insights into how the brain perceives and processes sensory information, remembers, controls movement, and makes decisions. Applied research implements and develops the findings of basic research to address brain and nervous system disorders and to leverage fundamental knowledge for developing new methods in artificial intelligence and robotics. Research is conducted at various levels, from the molecular level through the cellular, network, and system levels, up to the cognitive and behavioral levels, utilizing a rich combination of experimental and theoretical methods. The School of Neuroscience and Cognition at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev centralizes research and teaching in these fields, bringing together researchers from diverse levels and methodologies.

The Master’s program in Neuroscience and Cognition is designed to train students from a multidisciplinary perspective. Graduates with a bachelor’s degree in life sciences, medical sciences, physics, mathematics, engineering, computer science, psychology, neuroscience, and other related fields are invited to apply. The program offers a variety of courses, ranging from the molecular level, through the cellular, network, and system levels, up to the cognitive level of the whole brain. Students can choose academic advisors from among researchers employing experimental neuroscience, theoretical neuroscience, or computational neuroscience techniques (including machine learning).

The school’s faculty includes researchers from the Faculties of Health Sciences, Natural Sciences, Engineering Sciences, and Social Sciences and Humanities. A list of researchers and their research areas can be found at: https://in.bgu.ac.il/en/bss/Pages/all-researchers.aspx.

The Master of Science (M.Sc.) degree includes four mandatory courses: a basic course and an advanced course in neurophysiology, and a basic course and an advanced course in cognitive sciences. Students with sufficient background may be exempt from one basic course or both basic courses. In addition, students will select elective courses with the approval of their advisor. The student will conduct a master’s research project under the guidance of one of the school’s faculty members.

This degree is taught in Hebrew.