Course Info: CS-0134

CourseCS-0134 Brain and Cognition
Long TitleBrain and Cognition
Term2018S
Note(s) Satisfies Distribution
Textbook information
Meeting InfoAdele Simmons Hall 221 on T,TH from 9:00-10:20
FacultyJoanna Morris
Capacity23
Available-1
Waitlist0
Distribution(s) Mind, Brain, and Information
Cumulative Skill(s)Writing and Research
Quantitative Skills
Additional InfoIn this course, students are expected to spend at least six to eight hours a week of preparation and work outside of class time. This time includes reading, writing, research.
Description

The problem of explaining how the brain enables human conscious experience remains a great mystery of human knowledge. This course is an introduction to cognitive neuroscience in which we examine the neural underpinnings of the mind's complex processes, paying particular attention to vision, attention, and memory. Cognitive neuroscience incorporates elements of physiological psychology, neuroscience, cognitive psychology, and neuropsychology. In this course, students become familiar with the tools of research used in cognitive neuroscience and with questions that motivate researchers in the field. Students are expected to read and critically analyze articles from professional scientific literature.

The aim of this course was to become familiar with the tools of research used in cognitive neuroscience and with questions that motivate researchers in the field. Students were expected to complete six multiple choice quizzes and four short-answer assignments that were designed to evaluate mastery of the readings and material covered in class. They were also required to write an 8-10 page research proposal consisting of a literature review justifying or motivating their proposed research, a testable hypothesis, clear quantitative predictions that derive from that hypothesis, and a detailed description of an empirical study designed to test those predictions. Students were expected to demonstrate a clear grasp of the fundamentals of experimental design and of how quantitative methods can be used to answer behavioral questions.