Course teacher

Associate teachers

ECTS credits

5

Number of hours: Lectures + Seminars + Exercises

30 / 0 / 30

Course objectives

The course aims to introduce students to the main concepts and study of human memory, learning, and thinking.

By the end of the course, students will have acquired knowledge on theoretical accounts of human memory, learning and thinking, covering both its behavioral and neurological aspects. Students will be able to explain principles of learning with an extensive focus on reinforcement learning and learning algorithms. Also, they will have attained the expertise in contrasting various theoretical accounts and models of thinking and reasoning, which are fundamental in understanding human problem-solving and decision making.

Enrolment requirements and/or entry competences required for the course

-

Learning outcomes at the level of the programme to which the course contributes

• Explain major historical paradigms and recognize important new trends in cognitive science.
• Apply theoretical knowledge of the fundamentals of the six core disciplines and their relationship within cognitive science.
• Integrate insights, methods, and levels of analysis across different disciplines into a unified framework for understanding the human mind and cognition in general.
• Critically evaluate cognitive science findings and synthesize information to be employed in a collaborative professional environment.
• Apply interdisciplinary approach in examining phenomena pertaining to cognition.
• Apply specific knowledge and skills from selected disciplines constituting cognitive science.

Course content (syllabus)

• Introduction to the psychology of cognitive processes
• Introduction to the neuroscience of cognitive processes
• Memory Systems: Short and long-term memory
• Memory Systems; Explicit memory; Episodic, semantic, and autobiographical memory
• Memory Systems; Implicit memory
• Working memory; Executive functions
• Visual working memory
• Learning; Types of learning; 4E framework and learning
• Associative learning
• Reinforcement learning
• Non-associative learning
• Thinking and problem solving
• Reasoning; Decision making; Heuristics and Cognitive Biases
• Creativity
• Intelligence

Student responsibilities

Class attendance, project, homework, final exam

Required literature

• Eysenck, M.W., Keane, M.T. (2015). Cognitive psychology. Hove: Psychology Press.
• Gluck, M., Mercado, E. and Myers. C. (2007). Learning and Memory: From Brain to Behavior. New York, NY: Worth Publishers. ISBN: 9780716786542.
• Minda, J.P. (2015). The Psychology of Thinking: Reasoning, Decision-making, and Problem Solving. London, UK: Sage.

Optional literature

• Sternberg, R. (2016). Cognitive psychology (7th edition). Cengage Learning.