Cognitive Science
Courses
Lower-Division
1. Introduction to Cognitive Science A team-taught
course highlighting development of the field and the broad range of
topics covered in the major. Example topics include addiction, analogy,
animal cognition, artificial life, brain damage, cognitive development,
distributed cognition, human-computer interaction, language, neuroimaging,
neural networks, reasoning, robots, and real-world applications.
3. An Introduction to Computing (4) A
practical introduction to computers and how you can use their power. Designed
for undergraduates in the social sciences. Topics include: basic operations
of personal computers (MAC, PC), UNIX, word processing, email, spreadsheets,
and creating web pages using the World Wide Web. No previous background
in computing required.
10. Cognitive Consequences of Technology (4)
The role of cognition and computation in the development of state-of-the
art technologies such as human computational interaction in aviation,
air traffic control, medical diagnosis, robotics and telerobotics, and
the design and engineering of cognitive artifacts.
11. Introduction to Cognitive Science: Minds and Brains (4)
How damaged and normal brains influence the way humans solve problems,
remember or forget, pay attention to things; how they affect our emotions;
and the way we use language in daily life.
14. Design and Analysis of Experiments (4)
Design, statistical analysis, and interpretation of experiments in the
main areas of cognitive science: brain, behavior, and computation. Introduction
to mathematical foundations of probability and statistical decision
theory. Decision theory is applied to the problem of designing and analyzing
experiments. Students will participate in a group project in which they
must design scientific experiments, collect data and analyze results.
May fulfill general education requirements; ask a college adviser.
17. Neurobiology of Cognition (4) Introduction
to the organization and functions of the nervous system. Topics include
molecular, cellular, developmental, systems, and behavioral neurobiology.
Specifically, structure and function of neurons, peripheral and central
nervous systems, sensory, motor, and control systems, learning and memory
mechanisms. (Students may not receive credit for both Biology 12 and
Cognitive Science 17. This course fulfills general-education requirements
for Marshall and Roosevelt Colleges as well as Warren by petition.)
18. Introduction to C Programming for Cognitive Modeling (4)
An introduction to the C programming language and its use in modeling
cognitive phenomena. Other topics include: fundamentals of computer architecture,
programming languages, operating systems, algorithms and data-structures.
Modeling applications include: symbolic artificial intelligence, neural
networks, genetic algorithms and computer graphics. Prerequisite: Mathematics
10A or 20A.
25. Introduction to Web Programming (4)
Introduction to Web programming languages and their real-world applications.
Concepts and languages covered include document structure (XHTML). A
basic background in computing is required, but no prior programming
experience.
91. SCANS Presents (1) The department
faculty and the Students for Cognitive and Neurosciences (SCANS) offer
this seminar exploring issues in cognitive science. It includes informal
faculty research presentations, investigations of topics not covered
in the curriculum, and discussions on graduate school and careers. (May
be repeated when topics vary.)
Upper-Division
101A. Sensation and Perception An introduction
to the experimental study of cognition with a focus on sensation and
perception. Prerequisite: Cognitive Science 1.
101B. Learning, Memory, and Attention A
survey of the experimental study of learning, memory, and attention.
Topics include conditioning, automaticity, divided attention, memory
systems, and the nature of mental representation. Prerequisites: Cognitive
Science 1. Recommended: Cognitive Science 101A.
101C. Language An introduction to structure
of natural language, and to the cognitive processes that underline its
acquisition, comprehension, and production. This course covers findings
from linguistics, computer science, psychology, and cognitive neuroscience
to provide an integrated perspective on human language abilities. Prerequisite:
Cognitive Science 1. Recommended: Cognitive Science 101A.
102A. Distributed Cognition Distributed
cognition extends beyond the boundaries of the person to include the
environment, artifacts, social interactions, and culture. Major themes
are the study of socially distributed cognition and the role of artifacts
in human cognition. Prerequisite: Cognitive Science 1.
102B. Cognitive Ethnography This course
examines memory, reasoning, language understanding, learning, and planning
directly in everyday, real-world settings. The coursework will include
discussions of both the findings and the methodology of naturalistic
studies of cognition. Prerequisite: Cognitive Science 102A.
102C. Cognitive Engineering Applications
of cognitive science for the design of human-centered systems are explored.
An extensive project analyzing an existing system or product or designing
a new prototype application is required. Prerequisites: Cognitive Science
102A and 102B recommended.
107A. Neuroanatomy and Physiology This
first course in the sequence focuses on principles of brain organization,
from neurons to circuits to functional networks. It explores developmental
plasticity, neuronal connectivity, cellular communication, complex signaling,
and how these various dimensions form functional brain systems. Prerequisite:
Cognitive Science 1.
107B. Systems Neuroscience This course
is a rigorous introduction to the neurophysiological and neuroanatomical
basis of human and animal cognition, covering cellular neurophysiology
and circuit modeling, development, visual, somatosensory, auditory,
motor, and limbic systems; neuroimaging and language. Prerequisite:
Cognitive Science 107A.
107C. Cognitive Neuroscience This course
studies brain systems implicated in attention, language, object recognition,
and memory. Neurobiological evidence for functional subsystems within
these processes and the way specialized systems develop are considered
using findings from animal studies, human development, and behavioral
and brain imaging. Prerequisites: Cognitive Science 107B and its prerequisites.
108D. Programming Methods for Cognitive Science (Course
previously offered as COGS 108A fall 2001) The design, implementation,
and analysis of algorithms and data structures. Applications include:
symbolic artificial intelligence, neural networks, genetic algorithms,
computer graphics, and human computer interaction. Prerequisites: Cognitive
Science 1 and Cognitive Science 18 or CSE 9A or CSE 10, or permission
of instructor.
108E. Neural Network Models of Cognition I (Course
previously offered as COGS 108B winter 2002) This course is an elementary
introduction to neural networks and their use in cognitive science.
Students will learn how to construct and train neural networks to solve
problems at both the psychological and neurological levels of cognition.
Prerequisite: Cognitive Science 108D.
108F. Advanced Programming Methods for Cognitive Science (Course
previously offered as COGS 108C spring 2002) This course focuses on
providing students with additional programming experience in the design
of cognitive science applications and modeling. Each time it is offered
a specific application or modeling area will be covered. Prerequisites:
Cognitive Science 108E and Math 20F.
113. Cognitive Development (4) This
course examines the foundations and growth of mind, discussing the development
of perception, imagery, concept formation, memory, and thinking. Emphasis
is placed on the representation of knowledge in infancy and early childhood.
(Credit may not be received for both Psychology 136 and Cognitive Science
113.) Prerequisite: Cognitive Science 101B or Psychology 105 or Psychology
101.
115. Neurological Development and Cognitive Change (4)
This course provides an overview of neurological development and explores
the relations between physiological change and the experience of the
child from the prenatal period through adolescence. Prerequisite: Cognitive
Science 17 or equivalent.
120. Human Computer Interaction (4)
This course is an introduction to the field of human computer interaction
(HCI). It provides an overview of HCI from the perspective of cognitive
science. Prerequisites: Cognitive Science 10 and an introductory programming
course, or consent of instructor.
121. Human Computer Interaction Programming (4)
This course is an introduction to human computer interaction (HCI) programming.
It focuses on architectures, implementation techniques, and cognitive
issues involved in designing interactive interfaces. Prerequisite: Cognitive
Science 120 or consent of instructor.
151. Analogy and Conceptual Systems (4)
Human thought and meaning are deeply tied to the capacity for mapping
conceptual domains onto each other, inducing common schemas and performing
mental simulation. This course examines major aspects of this cognitive
activity including metaphor, conceptual blending and embodied cognition.
Prerequisite: upper-division standing.
154. Communication Disorders in Children and Adults (4)
The course will begin with neural bases of language use in normal adults,
and the neural bases of language and communication development in normal
children. It will review recent evidence on the nature of language and
communication deficits in several clinical populations of adults (especially
aphasia and dementia) and children (including specific language impairment,
focal brain injury, retardation, and autism). (Credit may not be received
for both Psychology 174 and Cognitive Science 154.) Prerequisites: Cognitive
Science 10, 11 or Psychology 101 or Cognitive Science 101AB or Psychology
101AB or Psychology 145 or Psychology 105 or Psychology 2 and 3.
156. Language Development (4) A comprehensive
survey of theory, method and research findings on language development
in children ranging from the earliest stages of speech perception and
communication at birth to refinements in narrative discourse and conversational
fluency through middle childhood and adolescence. (Credit may not be
received for both Psychology 126 and Cognitive Science 156). Prerequisites:
upper-division standing and background in developmental psychology and/or
linguistics is recommended.
160. Upper-Division Seminar on Special Topics (1-4)
Special topics in cognitive science are discussed. (May be repeated
when topics vary.) Prerequisite: department approval.
170. Natural and Artificial Symbolic Representational Systems (4) This course develops a detailed analogy between the evolution and architecture
of language comprehension in human primates and symbol processing at
the level of individual cells, contrasting this with the analogy between
cognition and computation. Prerequisites: Cognitive Science 17 or Biology
12; Cognitive Science 18 or Computer Science and Engineering 62AB recommended.
172. Brain Disorders and Cognition (4)
A review of the patterns of impaired and intact cognitive abilities present
in brain-damaged patients in terms of damage to one or more components
of a model of normal cognitive functioning. (Cognitive science majors
may not receive elective credit for both Psychology 139 and Cognitive
Science 172.) Prerequisite: Cognitive Science 107A.
174. Drugs: Brain, Mind and Culture (4)
This course explores how drugs interact with the brain/mind and culture.
It covers evolutionary and historical perspectives, brain chemistry,
pharmacology, expectancies and placebo effects, and models of addiction.
It also provides a biopsychosocial survey of commonly used and abused
substances. Prerequisite: upper-division standing. Midterm, final, paper.
175. The Neuropsychological Basis of Alternate States of Consciousness
(4) This course will review the literature
that correlates brain rhythms in the human EEG with aspects of cognition,
behavioral states, neuropsycho-pharmacology, and psychopathology in
order to understand the psychological and neurophysiological underpinnings
of these experiences. Prerequisites: Cognitive Science 101A or Cognitive
Science 107A.
179. Electrophysiology of Cognition (4)
This course surveys the theory and practice of using recordings of electrical
and magnetic activity of the brain to study cognition and behavior.
It explores what brain waves reveal about normal and abnormal perception,
processing, decision making, memory, preparation, and comprehension.
Prerequisites: Cognitive Science 107A or Psychology 106; Cognitive Science
101A or Psychology 105.
181. Neural Network Models of Cognition II (4)
This course is a continuation of the study of neural models of cognitive
systems with an emphasis on applications and a term-long student project.
Prerequisites: Cognitive Science 108C and its prerequisites.
183. Artificial Life (4) This class
will explore models of life as it could be, in artificial as well as
biological contexts. An attempt will be made to understand the characteristics
which distinguish living from nonliving systems. Coursework includes
computer simulations of artificial lifeforms. Prerequisites: Cognitive
Science 18, CSE 5A and 5B, or CSE 11, or equivalent.
184. Modeling the Evolution of Cognition (4)
Mathematical and computational modeling of the evolution and mechanisms
of simple cognitive functions. Theoretical background, including topics
in population genetics, behavioral ecology, evolutionary game theory,
dynamical systems theory, genetic algorithms and neural networks will
be applied to questions concerning the evolution of behavioral strategies,
the relation between evolution and learning, and the evolution of cooperation,
communication and other aspects of social behavior. Prerequisites: Cognitive
Science 18, Mathematics 20ABC.
187A-B. Multimedia Design (4) This sequence
will examine the cognitive basis of successful multimedia designs. We
will be interested in what makes an interactive system effective: what
makes images easy to understand, animations clear and helpful, and why
some sequences of images, text and sounds make more sense than others.
Students will learn web design, how to evaluate CD ROMs and assess their
usability, and gain first hand experience with the problems of visualization.
No programming skills are presupposed but we do assume a strong familiarity
with computer software.
190A. Pre-Honors Project in Cognitive Science (4)
This independent study course is for advanced students who wish to prepare
for and apply to the Cognitive Science Honors Program. After completing
this course, students may be admitted to the Honors Program contingent
upon significant progress made during the course. (See Cognitive
Science Honors Program section for more information.) Students
should contact faculty whose research interests them to discuss possible
projects. Prerequisite: upper-division standing; instructor and department
approval.
190B. Honors Studies in Cognitive Science (4) This
course will allow cognitive science honors students to explore advanced
issues in the field of cognitive science. It will also provide honors
students the opportunity to develop an honors thesis on the topic of
their choice and begin preliminary work under faculty supervision. Students
will receive an IP grade in 190B and the grade assigned
for 190C, when completed, will replace the IP in 190B. Prerequisites:
Cognitive Science 190A with grade of A- or better and formal admittance
to the Cognitive Science Honors Program. (See Cognitive Science
Honors Program section for more information.)
190C. Honors Thesis in Cognitive Science (4) This
course will provide honors candidates an opportunity to complete the
research on and preparation of an honors thesis under close faculty
supervision. Oral presentation of students thesis is required
to receive honors; additionally, student must receive grade of A- or
better in 190B and 190C to receive honors. Prerequisite: Cognitive Science
190B with grade of A- or better and formal admittance to the Cognitive
Science Honors Program. (See Cognitive Science Honors Program
section for more information.)
190D. Preparation for Thesis Presentation (1)
This course is affiliated with the honors program (190A-B-C) and is
required of honors students during spring quarter. Its aim is to prepare
students to present research results to an audience. Emphasis will be
on the oral presentation (organization, wording, graphics), but there
will also be some discussion about written research reports. Seminar
style format with occasional short lectures wherein students will practice
oral presentations and provide constructive criticism to each other.
Prerequisite: must be concurrently enrolled in 190B or 190C.
191. Laboratory Research (1-4) Students
engage in discussions of reading of recent research in an area designated
and directed by the instructor and also participate in design and execution
of original research. Assignments include both oral and written presentations
and demonstrating the ability to pursue research objectives. Prerequisites:
consent of the instructor and department approval. (May be repeated
for credit, but not to exceed 8 units).
195. Instructional Apprenticeship in Cognitive Science (4)
Students, under the direction of the instructor, lead laboratory or
discussion sections, attend lectures, and meet regularly with the instructor
to help prepare course materials. Applications must be submitted to
and approved by the department. Prerequisites: upper-division standing;
3.0 GPA; instructor and department approval. P/NP only.
198. Directed Group Study (4) This independent
study course is for small groups of advanced students who wish to complete
a one- quarter reading or research project under the mentorship of a
faculty member. Students should contact faculty whose research interests
them to discuss possible projects. Prerequisites: upper-division standing;
2.5 GPA; consent of instructor and department approval.
199. Special Project (1-4) This independent
study course is for individual, advanced students who wish to complete
a one- quarter reading or research project under the mentorship of a
faculty member. Students should contact faculty whose research interests
them to discuss possible projects. Prerequisites: upper-division standing;
2.5 GPA; consent of instructor and department approval.
Graduate
200. Cognitive Science Seminar (4) This
seminar emphasizes the conceptual basis of cognitive science, including
representation, processing mechanisms, language, and the role of interaction
among individuals, culture, and the environment. Current developments
in each field are considered as they relate to issues in cognitive science.
(May be repeated for credit.)
201. Systems Neuroscience (4) This course
is a rigorous introduction to the neurophysiological and neuroanatomical
basis of human and animal cognition, covering cellular neurophysiology
and circuit modeling; development; visual, somatosensory, auditory,
motor, and limbic systems; neuroimaging and language.
202. Cognitive Science Foundations: Computational Modeling of Cognition
(4) This course surveys the development of
symbolic and connectionist models of cognition. Selected readings from
the late 1940s to the present are covered. Topics include: Turing machines,
information theory, computational complexity, search, learning, symbolic
artificial intelligence, and neural networks.
203. Cognitive Science Foundations: Theories and Methods in the
Study of Cognitive Phenomena (4) Surveys
a variety of theoretical and methodological approaches to the study
of human cognition. Topics include language structure, language processing,
concepts and categories, knowledge representation, analogy and metaphor,
reasoning, planning and action, problem solving, learning and expertise,
and emotion.
205. Introduction to Thesis Research (4)
This course is taken to focus the students development of a thesis
topic and research proposal. Students prepare an outline of thesis proposal
and make an oral public presentation of the proposed topic prior to
the end of the third year. S/U only.
210A-B-C. Introduction to Research (4-4-4)
This sequence is an intensive research project. Students under faculty
mentorship perform a thorough analysis of the problem and the literature,
carry out original studies, and prepare oral and written presentations.
Students should aim for a report of publishable quality. Letter grade
required.
211A-B-C. Research Methods in Cognitive Science (2-2-2)
Issues in design, implementation, and evaluation of research in cognitive
science are discussed. Students will present and comment on their own
research projects in progress. Discussions also include presentations
of research to various audiences, abstracts, reviews, grant process,
and scientific ethics. Letter grade required.
213. Issues in Cognitive Development (4)
This course examines current issues in human development of interest
to cognitive scientists. An emphasis is placed on the foundations of
mind and how information is represented at various stages of learning
and development. (May be repeated once, when topics vary.)
215. Neurological and Cognitive Development (3)
This course is presented in two sections. The first part of the course
focuses on early neurological development. The second part addresses
questions concerned with the relations between cognitive brain development,
and linguistic and affective development.
220. Information Visualization (4) This
seminar surveys current research in information visualization with the
goal of preparing students to do original research. The focus is on
the cognitive aspects of information design, dynamic representations,
and computational techniques. Topics vary each time course is offered.
Course not offered in 20032004.
234. Distributed Cognition (4) This
course focuses on aspects of individual and socially distributed cognition.
Empirical examples are drawn from natural and experimental settings
which presuppose, tacitly or explicitly, socially distributed knowledge
among participants. The class examines the way locally managed, pragmatic
conditions influence how decisions are framed.
238. Topics in Cognitive Linguistics (14)
(Same as Linguistics 238) Basic concepts, empirical findings, and recent
developments in cognitive and functional linguistics. Language viewed
dynamically in relation to conceptualization, discourse, meaning construction,
and cognitive processing. (As topics vary, may be repeated for credit.)
Course not offered in 20032004.
241. Ethics and Survival Skills in Academia (24)
This course will cover ethical issues which arise in academia, including:
dishonesty, plagiarism, attribution, sexual misconduct, correcting errors,
political activity, dealing with collaborators, etc. We will also discuss
survival issues, including job hunting, grant preparation,
journal reviews, writing letters of recommendation, mentoring, etc.
This course is open to students from any deparment.
245. Introduction to Probability Theory (4) This
is a one quarter introductory course on probability theory and applications.
The target audience is researchers in the cognitive, computational and
neural sciences. The course also introduces scientific programming in
MatLab. The grade is based on homework, project, or a combination of
both. Course not offered in 20032004.
250. Connectionist Models of Language (4) This
course covers topics in computational psycholinguistics. The primary
focus will be on connectionist models, but will also include work in
statistical natural language processing as well as experimental psycholinguistics.
251. Aphasia (3) Research and theory
on language breakdown in brain-damaged adults is surveyed. Topics include
an historical overview from linguistics, psycholinguistics, and neuroscience
(especially brain imaging techniques). Credit may not be received for
both Psychology 245 and Cognitive Science 251.
253. Semantics and Cognition (4) This
course explores current issues in the study of meaning and its interaction
with other areas of cognitive science. The focus is on cognitive semantics,
pragmatics, and meaning construction in general.
256. Language Acquisition (4) Discussion
of the acquisition of language by young children, including such topics
as its stages, mechanisms, and relation to nonlinguistic development.
260. Seminar on Special Topics (1-4)
Specific topics in cognitive science are discussed. (May be repeated
when topics vary.)
271. Cognitive Neuropharmacology (4) This
course provides a review of the neurochemistry of cognition. Topics
include functional anatomy of neurotransmitter circuitry, computational
properties of neuromodulation, interaction of psychoactive substances
with brain and behavior, neuropharmacological accounts of cognitive
disorders (e.g., addiction, depression, schizophrenia). Not offered
in 20032004.
272. Topics in Theoretical Neurobiology (4)
The main focus of this course is the relationship between nervous system
function and cognition. It covers broad theoretical issues and specific
topics. Material comes from lectures, papers, and the text. Topic varies
each time the course is offered. (May be repeated for credit.) Course
not offered in 20032004.
273. Biological Basis of Attention (4)
A survey of the research and theories of attention with special emphasis
on the current anatomical, physiological, and biochemical basis of attention.
274. Advanced Cognitive Neuroscience (4) This
seminar surveys current research investigating the neural systems important
in attention, language, memory, and object recognition. Factors important
in their development and several different experimental approaches employed
in their study are also considered. Course not offered in 20032004.
275. Visual Modeling (4) Visual system
neurophysiology and neuroanatomy, and neurally realistic and artificial
intelligence modeling approaches are covered. Topics are: dendrites,
orientation and edges, motion, stereo, shading and color, eye movements,
and pattern recognition. Students prepare computer modeling projects
or research papers.
279. Electrophysiology of Cognition (4)
This course surveys the theory and practice of using recordings of electrical
and magnetic activity of the brain to study cognition and behavior.
It explores what brain waves reveal about normal and abnormal perception,
processing, decision making, memory, preparation, and comprehension.
Graduate students will be required to do additional readings for the
material each week (different for each grad) and to present orally (as
well as in a written page) a critical analysis of the readings. Prerequisites:
COGS 107A or PSYC 106; COGS 101A or PSYC 105.
290. Cognitive Science Laboratory Rotation (2)
Laboratory rotations provide students with experience in the various
experimental methods used in cognitive science. Prerequisite: consent
of instructor. S/U only.
291. Laboratory Research (1-4) Students
engage in discussions of reading of recent research in an area designated
and directed by the instructor and also participate in the design and
execution of original research. Students are expected to demonstrate
oral and written competence in presenting original research. Prerequisite:
consent of the instructor and departmental approval. (May be repeated
for credit.)
298. Directed Independent Study (1-12)
Students study and research selected topics under the direction of a
member of the faculty.
299. Thesis Research (1-12) Students
are provided directed research on their dissertation topic by faculty
advisers.
500. Teaching Apprenticeship (1-4) This
practicum for graduate students provides experience in teaching undergraduate
cognitive science courses. S/U only.
Cognitive Science Courses
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