The aim of the course is to present the various research methods which are today used in the study of the relationship between the material brain and the mental functions of the mind. The focus will be in the domain of visual perception, through the study of scientific articles that describe methods to study the way in which this very fundamental cognitive function emerges from the visual system. Students will present and discuss such studies in class in order to become familiar both with the scientific methods available, as well as with the way in which one should study, comprehend and criticize an original scientific article. These presentations will be taken into account (together with the final exam) for the calculation of the final grade.
This course explores fundamental topics in the psychology of thinking. It provides a systematic examination of psychological theories related to thought processes, problem-solving, and decision-making. It covers different perspectives on the formation of concepts and categories, as well as the development and use of deductive and inductive reasoning. Key questions will be addressed, such as whether human thought is rational and what the relationship is between logic and the psychology of thinking. The course also examines the influence of culture and emotion on thought and cognition Finally, the development of academic skills in areas such as mathematics, reading, and writing is also examined.
Goals:
Description/Content:
The course will include lectures and presentations of research articles with class discussions. Topics include memory, learning, attention, social behaviour, sleep, perception; as well as studies of pathological conditions such as epilepsy, autism, pain, schizophrenia, etc. We will consider the integration of genetic predisposition and environmental factors, including early experiences in brain maturation and emerging behaviour.
The aim of this course is to familiarize students with the methodology used experimental psychology in the study of visual perception. We will begin with a historical review in the field of psychophysics and the tools it offers to the scientist towards this direction, with an emphasis will be given in the sense of vision. Students will learn basic concepts such as threshold, adaptation, aftereffects, attention, awareness or the lack of it, as well as visual illusions. Students will present and discuss original research articles in class in order to become familiar both with the ways in which scientists in the field design, run, analyze and present experiments and data.
Course Objective
The aim of the course is for students to become acquainted with the modern scientific research field of perceptual decision-making and to understand fundamental and advanced concepts related to decision formation in humans and animals in changing environments under conditions of noise and uncertainty. The course also aims to encourage students to critically examine current research and reflect on contemporary issues and their significance in understanding the corresponding mental processes and neural mechanisms. During the learning process, students will be introduced to a broad range of experimental paradigms and theoretical analyses that serve as important tools in Cognitive Science.
Indicative Topics:
This course offers an introductory and comprehensive overview of the main philosophical issues related to the study of mind. It includes classical problems from the philosophy of mind - such as the mind-brain relation, the problem of consciousness, the computational model of mind, and the debate between internalist and externalist approaches - but it places greater emphasis on topics in the philosophy of science and on the specific challenges that arise within the field of cognitive science.
