Cognitive and Linguistic Sciences (CG) 1, Sem. I, 2007-08
Approaches to the Mind: Introduction to Cognitive Science
Required Texts
! Kellogg, R.T. 2007. Fundamentals of Cognitive Psychology
! Readings available on WebCT6
WEBCT6
Go to https://mycourses.brown.edu to log in.
Your short ID is a field in the Electronic Address Book (EAB);
find your name: http://www.brown.edu/cgi-local/webph
Your password the first time is your SIS #
Check the calendar on WEBCT6 for scheduling of topics, readings, and class lectures during the
semester.
Syllabus
I. Introduction
What is cognitive science?
Theoretical issues
Methodological issues
Modularity
Cognitive architecture
!
!
!
Kellogg, ch. 1, pp. 1-30.
WebCT reading: Pinker, S. ch. 2, Thinking Machines, in How the Mind Works,
pp. 59-93.
WebCT reading: DeLoche, J.S. 2001. Becoming symbol-minded. Trends in
Cognitive Science, 8, 66-70.
II. Cognitive Architecture Systems: Higher level vision
Object recognition
Visual search
Object representation
Visual Processing Streams – What & Where
The binding problem
Neglect
Mental Imagery
Category specificity: Are faces special?
Readings
! Kellogg, ch. 2, pp. 31-53, 61-62; ch. 3, pp. 84-89; ch. 7, pp. 196-202.
! WebCT reading:
-- Bar, Moshe, 2001. Viewpoint dependency in visual object recognition does not
necessarily imply viewer-centered representations. Journal of Cognitive
Neuroscience, 13, 6, 793-799.
-- Roskies, A.L. 1999. The binding problem. Neuron, 24, 7-9.
CG1 Approaches to the Mind: Introduction to Cognitive Science
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--Hancock, PJB, Bruce, V, Burton, A.M. 2000. Recognition of unfamiliar faces.
Trends in Cognitive Science, 4, 330-337.
-- Kurson, R. Crashing Through, excerpts.
III. Concepts and Categories
Meaning in the Brain
Category specificity for objects
The link between perception and language
Representation of Categories
Formal definitions
Probabilistic theories
Prototypes and exemplars
Readings
! Kellogg, ch. 7, pp. 183-193; reread pp.194-211.
! WebCT reading:
-- Slotsky, V.M. 2003. The role of similarity in the development of categorization.
Trends in Cognitive Science, 7, 246-251.
-- Markman, A. and Dietrich, E. 2000. Extending the classical view of representation.
Trends in Cognitive Science, 4, 470-475.
IV. Cognitive Architecture Systems: Language
Theory of language
Levels of representation
Language processing
Sound structure
Categorical perception
Lexical processing
Sentence processing
Neural basis of language
Sensory-motor integration
Readings
! Kellogg, ch. 2, pp. 53-61; ch. 8, pp. 213-243.
! WebCT reading:
-- King, A.J. and Calvert, G.A. 2001. Multisensory integration: Perceptual
grouping by eye and ear. Current Biology, 11, R322-R325.
-- Sachs, O. A Neurologist’s Notebook: Recalled to Life. In The New Yorker, Oct.21,
2005, pp. 46-53.
V. Cognitive architecture: Resources
Memory
Attention
The amnesias
Readings
attention:
CG1 Approaches to the Mind: Introduction to Cognitive Science
!
!
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Kellogg, ch. 3, pp. 63-84; reread 44-45, 84-91.
WebCT reading:
-- Simons, D.J. and Levin, D.T. 1997. Change blindness. Trends in Cognitive
Science, 1, 261-267.
-- Strayer, D.L. and Johnston, W.A. 2001. Driven to distraction: Dual task studies of
simulated driving and conversing on a cellular telephone. Psychological Science, 12,
462-466.
memory and amnesia:
! Hunt/Ellis, ch.4, pp. 111-138; ch.5, 139-173; ch. 6, 174-201; ch. 7, pp.202-231.
! WebCT reading:
-- Schacter, D., Kotstaal, W., and Normal, K.A. 1997. False memories and aging, 1,
229-236.
-- Luria, A.R. The Mind of a Mnemonist, excerpts.
VI. Modeling: Computation and Representation
Modeling the Mind
Reasoning and decision making
Models as tools
Cognitivism: The Mind as Computer
Information processing and symbolic representation
Artificial Intelligence
Connectionism: Neural Modeling
Parallel Distributed Processing (PDP)
Models of the mind and networks in the brain
Readings
! Kellogg, ch.10, pp.279-309 (skim).
!
WEBCT Reading:
-- Pinker, S. Replaced by a machine. In How the Mind Works, pp. 98-148.
-- Harnad, S. 1990. The symbol grounding problem. Physica, 42, 335-346.
VII. Nature/Nurture
Critical periods
Bird song
Child language acquisition
Readings
! WEBCT Reading:
-- review Kurson, R. Crashing Through, excerpts in vision folder.
Gregory, R.I. 2003. Seeing after blindness. Nature Neuroscience, 6(9), 909-910.
-- Fine, I. et al. 2003. Long-term deprivation affects visual perception and cortex.
Nature Neuroscience, 6(9), 915-916.
-- Margoliash, D. 20004. Behavioral biology: Name that tune. Nature, 432 (7018),
682-683.
CG1 Approaches to the Mind: Introduction to Cognitive Science
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-- Pallier, C., Christopher, A., and Mehler, J. 1997. Language-specific listening.
Trends in Cognitive Science, 1, 129-132.
VIII. Big ideas
Emotion
Evolution
Theory of mind
Consciousness
Readings
Emotion
! Kellogg, pp. 13-14; 299-300.
Evolution
! WEBCT Readings:
-- Fitch, W.T. 2000. The evolution of speech: a comparative review. Trends in
Cognitive Science, 4, 258-267.
Theory of Mind
! WEBCT Readings:
-- Greene, J., and Haidt, J. 2002. How and where does moral judgment work. Trends in
Cognitive Science, 6, 517-523.
Consciousness
! Kellogg, pp. 12-13.
! WebCT Reading:
-- Atkinson, A.P., Thomas, M.S.C., and Cleermans, A. 2000. Consciousness:
Mapping the Theoretical Landscape. Trends in Cognitive Science, 2000, 4, 372-382.
-- Churchland, P. Self-representation in nervous systems. Science, 296, 308-310.
COURSE REQUIREMENTS
Exercises
Exercise 1 due in class: Friday, Sept. 28
Exercise 2 due in class: Friday, Oct. 12
Exercise 3 due in class: Friday, Oct.26
Paper topic due in class: Monday, Nov. 5
paper (10 pages) due: Monday Dec. 3 by 5 pm
final: Saturday, December 15 @ 2 pm
Instructor
Professor Sheila Blumstein
222 Metcalf Research
ext. 3-2849; h 245-2114
Sheila_Blumstein@brown.edu
office hours: Wed. 2-4 and by appt.
Graduate TAs
CG1 Approaches to the Mind: Introduction to Cognitive Science
Phil Fernbach
136 Metcalf Research
ext. 3-1167
Philip_Fernbach@brown.edu
Office hours: Thurs. 12-2
Erika Scilipoti
206 Hunter Lab
ext. 3-9986
Erika_Scilipoti@brown.edu
Office hours: Thurs. 2-4
Jean Vettel
229 Metcalf Research
ext.3-1678
Jean_Vettel@brown.edu
Office hours: Tues. 2-4
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