Psychology 233 - Cognitive Psychology

Spring
2013
01
4.00
Matthew Schulkind

TTH 11:30AM-12:50PM

Amherst College
PSYC-233-01-1213S
MERR 3
mdschulkind@amherst.edu

This course will examine how the mind extracts information from the environment, stores it for later use, and then retrieves it when it becomes useful. Initially, we will discuss how our eyes, ears, and brain turn light and sound into colors, objects, speech, and music. Next, we will look at how memory is organized and how it is used to accomplish a variety of tasks. Several memory models will be proposed and evaluated: Is our brain a large filing cabinet? a sophisticated computer? We will then apply these principles to understand issues like intelligence, thinking, and problem-solving. Throughout the course, we will discuss how damage to various parts of the brain affects our ability to learn and remember.

Requisite: PSYC 100 or 212 or consent of the instructor. Limited to 40 students. Spring semester. Professor Schulkind.

Permission is required for interchange registration during all registration periods.