Psychophysics
Zhuanghua Shi
Dragan Rangelov
Course lecturers and tutors
Perception
White and Gold
Black and Blue
Blue and Brown
Switching
9%
10%
28%
53%
Reality ≠ Perception
 = f()
4
Psychophysics
 = f()
•   behavior: RT, accuracy
•   stimulus inputs
Behavior = f(stimulus inputs)
Why a course on psychophysical methods
Why a course on psychophysical methods
Experience
• Introspection
• Observation
Cognitive
architecture
• RT/errors
• Thresholds
• …
Neural mechanisms
•
•
•
•
fMRI
EEG
TMS
…
Why a course on psychophysical methods
• Complexity of neuro-cognitive phenomena requires
their analysis on different levels
• Levels are characterized by different methodological
and research approaches
• Analysis of behavioral measures helps interpretation
of neuroimaging results
Describing and opening the black box
• Psychophysics
Stimulus
• Cognitive neuroscience
Stimulus
Imaging
f(S, O)
Behavior
• Describing what functions
the cognitive system
performs
Behavior
• Describing how and where are
these functions implemented
Tilt illusion
• Erroneous perception of the tilt of the inner grating
as a function of contextual stimulation
Psychophysics of the tilt illusion
Schwartz et al., 2007, NatRevNeur
Neuroscience of the tilt illusion
• Electrophysiological measure
• responses of populations of neurons to local
orientation stimuli
Repulsive tuning shifts in primary
visual cortex neurons for space
and time, for context target
differences of 15°
Bringing together behavior and neurons
• From recordings of neurons (left) behavior can
reliably be predicted (right-hand side)
Aims of the course
• Overview of “classical” psychophysical methods
• with reference to their applications in current
neuro-cognitive psychology research.
• Demonstrate purely “psychological” tools for
investigating internal states and processes
• Hands-on experience.
Schedule
Strongway, Dragan
Efsun, Leo
Lecture, Mon, 14 –
16:00, Leo 1208
19.10.15
Intro + SDT I
20.10.15
Tutorial G1, Tue, 14 – 16:00,
Leo 1202
Article distribution
Introduction/Tutor
presentations/Student
assignments
Student Presentations
Markus
Tutorial G2, Wed, 14 –
16:00, Leo 1206
21.10.15
Article distribution
28.10.15
TUE: Seminar with
Efsun/Leo
(Tutor Presentations)
04.11.15
Introduction
11.11.15
Experiment Design
18.11.15
Methods & Lab Tour
26.10.15
Adpative Methods 1
27.10.15
02.11.15
Adaptative Methods 2
03.11.15
09.11.15
RT I
10.11.15
16.11.15
RT II
17.11.15
23.11.15
RT III
24.11.15
Data collection/office hours
25.11.15
Data Collection
30.11.15
RT IV
01.12.15
Data collection/office hours
02.12.15
Data Collection
08.12.15
Data Analysis (SPSS + R)
09.12.15
Analysis I
15.12.15
Data interpretation +
Discussion
16.12.15
Analysis II & Discussion
07.12.15
14.12.15
EXAM
21.12.15
22.12.15
11.01.16
12.01.16
20.01.16
Experiment instruction Week /
Lab tour (2 groups)
Designing the experiment
No regular class: Slot reserved for preparation of conference presentation
Final Discussion, Presentation practice, & Report writing
NCP conference + Tijuana (all)
Practical work
• Teaser papers available tomorrow
• Two groups:
1. Looking
• Visual search and memory learning
2. Touching
• Tactile contextual learning
• Main goal – practical application of the methods
covered in the lectures
Structure of the course
• Requirements for course credit points (5 CP)
• Active participation in lectures and tutorials
• Presentation of the projects’ results
• Exam
• Written report
Criteria for the evaluation of the students’
presentation
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•
•
•
•
•
Theoretical importance of the research
Research question
Paradigm and data collection
Appropriateness of data analyses
Well illustrated by examples and figures
Timing of the talk:
• 20 minutes
• good allocation of time for different parts
Criteria for written report
• 6 – 8.000 words long
• Structure
•
•
•
•
•
Abstract
Introduction
Methods/Results
Discussion
References – consistently formatted (APA)
• Written report will be graded by several reviewers
Course materials
• Lecture slides
• http://www.psy.lmu.de/exp/people/ma/rangelov
/teaching
• Research projects related materials provided by
the tutors
QUESTIONS?