Cognitive Science:
What Is It,
and How Can I Study It at RPI?
What is Cognitive Science?
Cognitive Science:
Aspects of Cognition
• Cognitive science is the science of
cognition, which includes such things as:
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perception
action
learning
memory
attention
reasoning
decision-making
language use
Cognitive Science:
Kinds of Minds
• Cognitive Science can be seen as the study of
mind, but these minds can be:
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human minds
animal minds
computer minds
robot minds
alien minds
group minds
or whatever minds
Cognitive Science:
Fields of Study
• Cognitive science is an inherently interdisciplinary
study; it is informed by, and has applications in:
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philosophy
psychology
computer science
neuroscience
linguistics
anthropology
biology
education
mathematics
robotics
Cognitive Science as one of the
‘Basic’ Sciences
• At some point in the future, cognitive science will
be regarded as one of the ‘basic’ sciences, in line
with physics, chemistry, and biology.
• Indeed, I believe that cognitive technology is
going to be the next ‘revolution’ in technology.
• We will have Cogno-Engineering (autonomous
intelligent machines, brain interfaces) …
• and Cogno-Ethics!
What can I do with
Cognitive Science?
• Cognitive Science (and Cognitive
Technology) can be used to analyze,
describe, predict, correct, augment, and
create minds. Some specific applications:
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Cognitive Modeling
Human Computer Interaction
Artificial Intelligence
Cognitive Robotics
Cognitive Engineering
Cognitive Modeling
• Cognitive Models
can analyze
cognitive behavior
at small timescales, thus e.g.
predict the effects
of texting while
driving
Human-Computer Interaction
• Cognitive Science
could lead to more
effective and efficient
Human-Computer
Interaction.
Artificial Intelligence
Facial Recognition Technology
• Imagine arriving at a hotel to be greeted by
name, because a computer has analyzed
your appearance at the front door. …”Your
phone … can tell you the name of that
person at the party whose name you always
forget … or it will tell the stalker in the bar
the address where you live”
-Yesterday’s Poly
Cognitive Robotics
Robocup
Can we make the Curiosity rover
more autonomous by giving it
Intelligence?
Create: the Roomba that doesn’t suck!
Cognitive Engineering
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Cognitive Ergonomics
Cognitive Mediation
Cognitive Prosthetics
Cognitive Augmentation
Cognitive Computing
Cognitive Ergonomics
• Cognitive ergonomically designed tools should ‘fit’ our
abilities to take in and process information, and act on it.
‘Smart Cockpit’ (really?)
Cognitive Mediation
Taking this a step further …
Craig Mundie, Microsoft Chief Research
and Strategy Officer:
“Today, we find ourselves embarking on
one of the biggest transformations in
computing ever, where the computer shifts
from being a tool to being a helper”
Better interfacing with Tom Cruise!
Cognitive Prosthetics
Using EEG’s (brain
waves measured
at scalp), patients that
can’t move their arms
learn to control a cursor
on a screen
- Wadsworth Research
Lab, Albany, NY
Even further …
Sensory Substitution
Former blind, Jens Naumann
can now see good enough to
‘drive slowly around in a parking lot’
thanks to a brain vision implant
Seeing with Sound
See with tongue
Cognitive Augmentation
Australian Art-Performer
Stelarc has a
third arm which he can
control using his
abdominal muscles
Cognitive Computing
???
How can I Study Cognitive
Science at RPI?
Cognitive Science at RPI
• In 1991-1992, the Philosophy Department merged with the Psychology
Department to form the Department of Philosophy, Psychology, and
Cognitive Science.
• In 2003, this became the Department of Cognitive Science, one of only
about 15 dedicated Departments of Cognitive Science in the world
• In 2004, we created a PhD program in Cognitive Science
• In the Spring of 2010, the B.S. undergraduate program in Cognitive
Science was approved
• About 20 faculty
• Relevant Laboratories / Research Groups:
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CogWorks Lab (Cognitive Modeling)
RAIR Lab (Artificial Intelligence and Reasoning)
PandA Lab (Perception and Action, Virtual Reality)
Human-Level Intelligence Lab
Cognitive Architecture Lab
Cognitive Robotics Lab
Sim Lab (Synthetic Characters)
Majors, Minors, and Concentrations
• Majors:
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COGS
PSYC
PHIL
When you dual major with COGS, PHIL, or PSYC, required
courses can count towards H&SS requirement
• Minors:
– Minor in COGS: 4 relevant courses, including Introduction to
Cognitive Science. Minds and Machines counts as 1 of the 4.
– ‘Cognition’ minor in PSYC
– ‘Logic, Computation, and Mind’ minor in PHIL
• Concentrations:
– IT has Cognitive Science concentration
– GSAS has Cognitive Science concentration
Core Curriculum for BS in
Cognitive Science
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Minds and Machines
Introduction to Cognitive Science
Introduction to Logic
Experimental Methods and Statistics
Cognitive Psychology
Cognitive Neuroscience
Introduction to Artificial Intelligence
Cognitive Modeling
Sensation and Perception
Knowledge and Rationality
Undergraduate Thesis
What Can I do With a Cognitive
Science BS?
• Rich Skill Set:
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Programming/Modeling
Empirical Data Collection and Evaluation
Complex Systems Analysis
Critical Thinking
Communication
• Careers (industry, academics) in Computer
Science (AI), Engineering (Robotics, Biomed),
Psychology (Cognitive Modeling, Human
Factors), Philosophy (Cogno-Ethics), IT (HCI),
Decision Sciences, Economics, Anthropology,
Social Sciences, Education, Law, etc.
Possible Dual Majors
• COGS / CSCI
• COGS / MATH
• COGS / GSAS
I am interested in the B.S. in Cognitive
Science. What should I do?
• Contact the Director Of Undergraduate
Studies In Cognitive Science:
– Bram van Heuveln
– heuveb@rpi.edu
I am interested in Cognitive Science,
but don’t want to do a whole B.S.
• OK, you can still:
– Declare a minor
– Come to the Issues in Cognitive Science lecture
series (every Wednesday from 12 to 1:30)
during which guest speakers, faculty, and
students share their latest ideas
– Join the Minds & Machines Program
– Join and get actively involved in any of our
other research labs and research groups
• In all cases, contact the Director:
– Bram van Heuveln, heuveb@rpi.edu
Minds & Machines Program
in Cognitive Technology
• The Minds & Machines
Program provides
opportunities for students
to work in the fields of:
– Artificial Intelligence
– Cognitive Robotics
– Synthetic Characters
• Do independent, or
student-led projects and
research in AI Lab and/or
Cognitive Robotics Lab.
• Interested? Contact Bram:
heuveb@rpi.edu