Psychological & Brain Sciences 391VM - S-CogntvNeurosci/Hi-LvlVis&Mem

The course will examine high-level vision and memory from a cognitive neuroscience perspective. We will discuss current brain-based theories of high-level vision and memory, including accounts of object recognition (i.e., object identification), accounts of recognition memory and accounts of amnesia. We will discuss the organization of these functions in the brain (Does the brain contain a "module" for faces?) and look at the cognitive consequences of damage to brain regions important for these functions (Does medial temporal lobe damage lead to problems with only memory?). We will discuss the empirical methods used to answer these questions, for example brain imaging techniques such as functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI) and neuropsychological studies that examine human patients with amnesia.

Senior Psychology Majors only. PSYCH 314/304, 315, or 330 Students who have completed Psych 240 and 241 may merit a prerequisite override and can contact the instructor.