Cognition, Language, and Cognitive Science Courses

How do we understand and make sense of the world? How does our knowledge about the world influence our behaviour? Many faculty members in the Department of Psychology teach and conduct research in cognition, language, and cognitive science. Here are some of the courses we offer in the department; not all courses are offered each year so check the University Calendar.

PSYCO 258 - Cognitive Psychology

This course provides an overview of the field of cognitive psychology. Topics include information processing, attention, memory, language processing, reasoning and problem solving. The emphasis will be on developing an understanding of general theoretical concepts that provide a unification of existing evidence and motivate current research. Prerequisites: PSYCO 104 and STAT 151 (or former PSYCO 211).

PSYCO 350 - Human Memory

The main goal of this course is to provide an overview of a number of selected topics in the study of human memory. When dealing with each topic, we will review, in some detail, a) the basic findings in the area, b) the empirical methods used to generate these findings, and c) the competing theories developed to account for them. It is expected that students will come away from this course with a good understanding and an appreciation of the relationship between experimentation and theory in the study of human memory. Prerequisite: PSYCO 258.

PSYCO 351 - Human Information Processing

An examination of theories, issues, and published research in the general area of human information processing. Topics include: attention; visual persistence; pattern, letter, word and object recognition; scene perception; human performance; and visual memory. Prerequisites: STAT 151 (or former PSYCO 211) and PSYCO 258.

PSYCO 354 - Foundations of Cognitive Science

This course exposes students to the interdisciplinary study of mind, cognitive science. Students are introduced to the representational theory of mind, to connectionism, and to the various disciplines and methodologies that comprise cognitive science. The major theme of the course is called the tri-level hypothesis: the assumption that cognitive explanations of the mind require three different kinds of descriptions -- computational (what problem is being solved?), algorithmic (what steps are being used to solve the problem?), and implementational (how are these problem-solving steps implemented in a mechanical device like the brain?). By the courseās end, students will understand why this hypothesis is forced upon researchers as soon as they assume that the mind is a complex information processor, and they will understand how this hypothesis directs the research strategies of cognitive scientists. Prerequisites: STAT 151 (or former PSYCO 211) and PSYCO 258.

PSYCO 357- Language Processing

This course provides a survey of theories and research on the production and comprehension of spoken and written language. Topics include lexical, sentence, and conversation processing; speech perception and production; first and second language acquisition; neural bases of language and language pathology; and reading and discourse comprehension. The emphasis is on understanding the theories and theoretical frameworks in the psychology of language. Prerequisites: PSYCO 258.

PSYCO 371 - Neurobiology of Learning & Memory

The aim of this course is to provide the student with an introduction to the neural bases of learning and memory. We will begin with a review of the historical background, experimental methods, and principles of neurobiology. Learning and memory will then be analysed at different levels of biological organization, including molecular, cellular, neural circuit, neural system, and behavioral. We will conclude with an analysis of the work of two investigators who incorporate multiple levels of analysis in their research programs. Prerequisites: PSYCO 275 and 281.

PSYCO 431- Theory and Practice of Psychometrics

This course aims to provide an overview of theories, principles, and applications of psychological testing and assessment. The focus is on standardized psychological tests in the areas of intelligence, aptitude, personality, interests, attitudes and values. In addition, recent advances in psychological assessment including behavioural assessment, clinical neuropsychology and testing in health-care settings will be discussed. The major theoretical issues discussed are reliability, validity, norms and the interpretation of test scores. Controversial issues relating to misuse of tests, social and ethical implications, and diagnostic use of assessment techniques are critically examined. The laboratory component of the course aims to provide: (1) experience in administration and scoring of major standardized group tests, (2) knowledge of statistical methods for determining reliability and validity of test data, and (3) experience in test construction. This course does not provide laboratory experience in individual intelligence tests and projective techniques, although a thorough discussion of these tests is presented in the lectures. Prerequisites: STAT 151 (or former PSYCO 211) and PSYCO 339 or consent of the department.

PSYCO 451- Visual Cognition and Attention

This course will cover the general area of visual object recognition, and it will do so by taking two approaches to the literature. During the first half of the term, we will read articles by many individuals who have done research in this area, and we will read the articles in chronological order, to see how the area and the issues have developed generally. During the second half of the term, we will cover the work of one researcher in this area - I. Biederman - also in chronological order, to see how one individual (granted, a very prolific individual) has both shaped and been shaped by the literature during the same period. Prerequisite: PSYCO 351.

PSYCO 452- Minds and Machines

This course introduces the students to the role of computer simulation in cognitive science. One goal of the course is to introduce students to the practice of synthetic psychology, which is contrasted with the analytic approaches of cognitive psychology. A second goal is to provide students with hands-on experience with a particular computer simulation tradition, called Connectionism or PDP modelling. This tradition will be contrasted with the Classical approach that was the focus of PSYCO 354, "Foundations of Cognitive Science", which is a pre-requisite for this course. There is no programming required for this course, as the required software comes with one of the course texts. Prerequisite: PSYCO 354.

PSYCO 459- Human Aging: Cognitive Processes

The objective of this course is to provide an overview of sensory, perceptual, memory, and cognitive changes in normal aging. Relatively less attention will be given to cognitive changes in pathological aging. A key focus of the course will be the impact of psychological, environmental, social, and health factors on cognitive processes. Prerequisite: PSYCO 354.

PSYCO 496 / PSYCO 498 - Individual Research

A course designed to allow the senior undergraduate student the opportunity to pursue a research topic in greater depth than the classroom structure permits. This pursuit may take the form of directed reading, library research, and/or laboratory experience. A formal paper, research proposal, research report, annotated bibliography, lab notes, and/or essay is required. Prerequisites: A 300-level psychology course and consent of the Department.