Simon Fraser University
Engaging the World

Course Outlines

Fall 2025 - LING 415 B100

Neurolinguistics (3)

Class Number: 1415

Delivery Method: Blended

Overview

  • Course Times + Location:

    Sep 3 – Dec 2, 2025: Fri, 10:30 a.m.–12:20 p.m.
    Burnaby

    Sep 3 – Dec 2, 2025: TBA, TBA
    Burnaby

  • Prerequisites:

    12 units of upper division linguistic courses.

Description

CALENDAR DESCRIPTION:

Explores language as a system of the human brain, including specific topics such as the neuroanatomy and neurophysiology of language; language production, perception and processing; bilingualism, language learning and brain plasticity; and aphasia, dyslexia, deafness and sign languages.

COURSE DETAILS:

This course examines language as a system of the human brain. Students will master basic neuroanatomy and neurophysiology of language-related systems in the brain in the first weeks of the course, and also study cognitive neuroscience methods used to study the brain. In subsequent weeks, research studies are surveyed with the broader goal of understanding how the brain processes language. Examples applications for this knowledge are also discussed, including how the brain develops in infancy, how language faculties recovers from brain damage (aphasia), how the brain ‘reads’ orthographic systems, and how neuroscientific design principles could be used to create tools that extract and interpret phonological, semantic, and syntactic information from brain activation.

MODE OF INSTRUCTION/ DELIVERY: Blended (2 hours in class per week, 1 hour online)

Grading

  • Participation & Research Engagement 5%
  • Written Responses & Class Presentation 15%
  • Quizzes & Exams 60%
  • Final Written Project (2% group) 20%

Materials

MATERIALS + SUPPLIES:

PLATEFORM: Canvas

TECHNOLOGY REQUIRED: device to access internet

REQUIRED READING:

Required readings will be available for download from the course website.

REQUIRED READING NOTES:

Your personalized Course Material list, including digital and physical textbooks, are available through the SFU Bookstore website by simply entering your Computing ID at: shop.sfu.ca/course-materials/my-personalized-course-materials.

Department Undergraduate Notes:

Students should familiarize themselves with the Department's Standards on Class Management and Student Responsibilities.

Please note that a grade of “FD” (Failed-Dishonesty) may be assigned as a penalty for academic dishonesty.

All student requests for accommodations for their religious practices must be made in writing by the end of the first week of classes or no later than one week after a student adds a course.

Registrar Notes:

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY: YOUR WORK, YOUR SUCCESS

At SFU, you are expected to act honestly and responsibly in all your academic work. Cheating, plagiarism, or any other form of academic dishonesty harms your own learning, undermines the efforts of your classmates who pursue their studies honestly, and goes against the core values of the university.

To learn more about the academic disciplinary process and relevant academic supports, visit: 


RELIGIOUS ACCOMMODATION

Students with a faith background who may need accommodations during the term are encouraged to assess their needs as soon as possible and review the Multifaith religious accommodations website. The page outlines ways they begin working toward an accommodation and ensure solutions can be reached in a timely fashion.