Short written assignments are due roughly every other week. The reports need not be extensive. Maximum length is 400 words. You must show in your answer that you understand the basic ideas we have covered in the course up to that point.
Submit your answer by 3 p.m. on the indicated due date.
Answers should be submitted from your Sakai Portal. Select the appropriate assignment number. You may type your answer directly into an edit box in Sakai, or attach an MS Word document that you have already prepared. You must acknowledge the honor pledge in order to submit the answer (see the honor code section in the syllabus for a definition of unacceptable assistance).
You may submit corrected answers for evaluation if your first submission was not as good as you had hoped. Note that, although Sakai will allow you to submit answers for some time after the due date, late papers will not receive any credit.
Answers are graded out of 10 points (60 points for all six assignments). The problems typically ask you to give an example of some theoretical concept, or to express your opinion on an issue. A perfect answer will demonstrate that you understand the central concepts, use examples that are appropriate, or substantiate your opinion with thoughtful reasoning.
Comments on the answers will be added after the assignments are graded.
The Problem:
Recently cognitive psychologists have become increasingly interested in emotions. Take any one emotion and show how it might be addressed using Marr's or Stanovich's three levels of analysis.
(a) Describe the kind of question that might be posed at each level.
(b) Suggest a possible answer to each question. (Your answers do not need to be correct, but they must be plausible, and pitched at the appropriate level)
Due date: January 25, 3:00 PM
Comments on the Answers:
The Problem:
Bermúdez suggests that recent work on reasoning and judgment is a good model of integration in cognitive science. Evolution theory and mathematical game theory have been combined with the psychological research to develop the theories of "cheat detection" and tit-for-tat. Mathematics (including logic and probability) provides a formal analysis of the task (demonstrating, e.g., what the optimal response would be). Evolution theory provides an ultimate explanation, based on an analysis of adaptive requirements.
(a) Describe one other psychological phenomenon where biology (evolutionary biology or neuroscience) and mathematics might make similar contributions.
(b) Explain what biology and mathematics might accomplish in this case. What insights might they offer for an understanding of behavior?
Hints: Use the logical reasoning task or the prisoners dilemma as a model. The Confer et al paper may suggest some ideas.
You may pick your own topic, and you can suggest what might be done,not necessarly what has already been done. However, it's best if you select some topic you are already familiar with. You need to make a case that this would be a profitable enterprise.
Due date: February 8, 3:00 PM
Comments on the Answers:
The Problem:
The physical symbol system hypothesis, as exemplified by the theories of Simon and Newell, has been taken as central to the idea that "mind is a computer". That is, it embodies the idea that the mind works just like a computer, and that computers can think just like a mind.
(a) Explain as precisely as you can what it would mean to say that minds and computers operate according to the same principles. How would we know if this were true?
(b) If there is a fundamental difference between minds and computers in the way they work, what would it be? If you think there could be no difference, explain why.
Due date: February 24, 3:00 PM
Comments on the Answers:
The Problem:
(a) Give an example of a kind of behavior that might plausibly be modeled using a physical symbol system. Describe (briefly) some of the rules that might be used by the system, and the data that the rules would work on.
(b) Explain how a connectionist network model might be used to explain the same kind of behavior. What would the input and output layers in the model represent? How would the model be trained?
Hint: Chapter 9 of the textbook contains some sections that might be used as examples of suitable topics.
Due date: March 22, 3:00 PM
Comments on the Answers:
The Problem:
Simon Baron-Cohen has developed an extensive theory of "mindreading" and its development, described in section 12.3 of the textbook (see figure 12.6). The theory suggests that there are several modules that become available at specific ages. The theory accounts for the development of "pretend play" in children and their performance on the "false belief" task, among other things.
Suggest further research that would test the hypothesis of separate modules, interconnected as proposed by Baron-Cohen. You should consider the general principles that support the idea of separate modules, including the principle of double dissociation.
Choose any part or parts of Baron-Cohen's general model to work with. Your description of the proposed research does not have to be extensive, but you should make clear how the research would support at least part of Baron-Cohen's theory. Of course, it should not duplicate research described in the textbook.
Due date: April 5, 3:00 PM
Comments on the Answers: