Psychology and Neuroscience ….Exploring Consciousness
Session two : 24 August to 6 September 2025
Psychology and Neuroscience ….Exploring Consciousness
What can psychology and neuroscience tell us about consciousness? This course will explore theories and disorders of consciousness, classic experiments and their findings and discuss the development of consciousness in human infants and large language models.
We will begin by examining theories of consciousness & problems in defining consciousness, measuring these against psychophysical studies of consciousness (signal detection theory). We will explore Neuropsychological disorders of consciousness, such as neglect and blindsight, and altered states of consciousness such as from psychoactive drugs, hypnosis and sensory deprivation, and near-death experiences. We will also assess different states of consciousness – coma, dreams, and the awake mind – and will examine how meditation, mindfulness, and other forms of introspection can transform the brain and its functions, both during meditation and afterwards, analysing its long-term effects. We will also examine how consciousness develops over time, working with theory of mind to examine the developing sense of self in human infants , how this interacts with the development of language and thought, and investigate the neural correlates of these developments.
Further topics will be the nature of animal consciousness, its comparative neuroanatomy, its different levels, and the use of different experimental methods to assess animal consciousness. Finally, we will also explore how AI and Large Language Models can be leveraged to develop various types of ‘consciousness experiments, especially Turing tests, or Theory of Mind tasks. During the final stage of the course, students will have the opportunity to design and run their own consciousness type experiments with LLMs, and/or to complete a short personal project on one of the other areas covered in the course.
Who should apply:
This course is open to students from any discipline, but it will be particularly relevant for students who are currently undertaking studies in Psychology, Neuroscience, Medicine, Healthcare, or Medical Humanities, as well as Biology, Sociology, or Anthropology.
For English requirement information, please see the Apply page.
Location: Lincoln College, University of Oxford
For Ages: 18+ (at time of attendance)
Duration: 2 weeks (13 nights and 14days)
Price: £4599
Date: Session one: 10th August to 23th August 2025
Subject Tutors
Tutor: Dr Alexandra Hibble
DR Alix holds a DPhil in Experimental Psychology (St. John’s College, Oxford, 2022), and has been teaching widely for various Oxford Colleges (Lincoln, St. John’s, University College, Worcester, and Magdalen), both on Psychology UG courses and in Study Skills for the Social Sciences and Humanities. Her academic research investigates whether different visual pathways respond to different motion cues, using behavioural psychophysics and eye tracking in normal observers and stroke patients.
Programme Features
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FAQ
How can I book my place on the programme?
To book your place on the Lincoln College Summer Academy Programme, please complete our online application form. Once we have received your application, you will be sent an email to confirm your booking, with details about how to pay the course fees and the date this payment is due.
If you have any questions about the application form, then please contact us and one of our advisors will be happy to help.
What are the English Language requirements?
The Lincoln College Summer Academy Programme is a unique course. This is because it is run by Oxford University academics and is based on a truly stimulating academic programme. For students to be able to make the most of the course, they will be required to have an IELTS score of 6.5 or equivalent.
If you have any questions or concerns about this English language requirement, please don’t hesitate to contact us and we will be able to advise you.
Can I organise my own accommodation?
Part of the Lincoln College experience is the opportunity to live, dine and study like an Oxford University student. This is why all students on the programme must stay onsite at Lincoln College.
Can I study more than one course?
There are 9 courses on offer for 2025 and students can choose one to study for the full two weeks.
If students are equally interested and qualified to take two different courses, you are welcome to join us for the whole month. You will choose one subject to study for the first two weeks of the programme and a different subject to study for the final two weeks of the programme.
For example, a student may decide to study history for session 1 of the programme and history of art for session 2.
Will I have to take exams?
There will be no official exams on this course. Students will be assessed based on essays, assignments and projects marked by the course tutor.
What kind of feedback will I receive?
Students will receive personalised feedback from their tutors both as verbal feedback during tutorial or seminar discussions and written feedback on any work they hand in. The nature of this feedback will depend on the course students are studying.
At the end of the programme, students will receive a certificate of attainment provided they have carried out the work to the best of their ability and actively participated in lessons and certifying the level they achieved.
Will I receive credit points?
The Lincoln College Summer Academy Programme is equivalent to 10 hours of credits in both the US and ECTS system. Your current university may choose to accept these credits towards your current degree. To be sure, please ask your university to get in touch with us and our Programme Director will be able to speak to the appropriate person at your university.
Will I be awarded with a certificate?
Yes, all students will receive either a certificate of attainment or a certificate of attendance at a specially organised graduation ceremony. This certificate will prove that you have carried out work of a challenging academic nature and may even be used towards credit at your current university (see above question on credits).
Will my tutor be able to provide me with a reference?
Yes, your tutor will be able to provide you with an academic reference should you require this for any future applications. If this is something you think you may need, it would be a good idea to discuss with your tutor during the programme.
Is it hard to get into Oxford Summer Courses?
The Lincoln College Summer Academy Programme, part of Oxford University’s academic summer courses, is open to adults aged 18 and over, including international students. To ensure participants can fully engage with the course material, a minimum English language proficiency is required. Acceptable qualifications include:
IELTS: 6.5
TOEFL: 90
PTE (Pearson Test of English): 61
Cambridge English: Advanced (CAE): 176
Cambridge English: Proficiency (CPE): 176
LanguageCert International ESOL B2: High Pass
LanguageCert International ESOL C1: Pass
Duolingo English Test: 120
These requirements ensure that all participants can effectively engage with the academic content and discussions throughout the programme.
