BRAIN AND COGNITIVE SCIENCES
BCS 110/ CVS 110/PSY 110—4 credits
Neural Foundations of Behavior
Session A-6wk (May 19-June 27)
MWR 10 a.m.–12:55 p.m.; Meliora 208
CRN 10163, BCS 110
CRN 13052, CVS 110
CRN 18185, PSY 110; B. Etzel
The course provides an introduction to the brain, its structure and organization, and how it controls everything we do -- our perceptions, actions, thoughts, and emotions. We begin with a brief overview of the structure of neurons and the functional organization of the brain. Then we examine how the brain senses the external world and analyzes information about what we see, hear and feel—and how it uses this information to control movements of the body. Next, we examine how different functions are localized in different parts of the brain, and what we can learn from observing people and animals who have suffered damage to their brains. We also look at how brain disorders lead to disordered behaviors. Later parts of the course examine the control of sexual behavior and some of the differences between the male and female brains. We also explore how the brain regulates the internal state of the body and our eating, drinking, sleeping and waking, and emotional behaviors and drives.
BCS 111—4 credits
Foundations of Cognitive Science
Session A-6wk (May 19-June 27)
MWF 1 p.m.–4 p.m.; Meliora 218
CRN 10172; B. Faber
This course introduces the organization of mental processes underlying cognition and behavior. Topics include perception, language, learning, memory and intelligence. This course integrates knowledge of cognition generated from the field of cognitive psychology with findings from artificial intelligence and cognitive neuroscience.
BCS 112/PSY 112—4 credits
Cognitive Psychology
Session A-6 wk (May 19-June 27)
MWF 1 p.m.-4 p.m.; Hylan 305
CRN 18963, BCS 112
CRN 18972, PSY 112; B. Faber
This course provides an introduction to basic concepts in cognitive science, adopting the perspective of modern cognitive psychology. It is divided into three sections. The first section introduces central cognitive processes, such as pattern recognition, attention and memory, and concepts and categories. The second section focuses on natural language, using language comprehension and language production as a domain for introducing more detailed models of cognitive processes. The third section examines higher-level thinking, focusing on reasoning and decision-making. Students cannot receive credit for both BCS 111 and BCS/PSY 112. This course is intended for PSY majors.
BCS 172/PSY 172—4 credits
Development of Mind and Brain
Session B-6 wk (June 30-August 8)
TWR 2 p.m.-4:55 p.m.; Meliora 208
CRN 10189,BCS 172
CRN 18230, PSY 172; M. Dye
This course introduces human development, focusing on the ability to perceive objects and sounds, to think and reason, and to learn and remember language and other significant patterned stimulation. It includes the nature and mechanisms of development in humans and an overview of what is known about brain and behavioral development in other species.