Scientific Studies of Consciousness
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UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA,
BERKELEY
Department of Psychology
Psychology 129
Cognitive Science 102
“Scientific Approaches to Consciousness”
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Claude Monet, "Impression: Sunrise" (1872-1873)
Marmottan Museum, Paris
Course Website: http://bspace.berkeley.edu
Instructor:***
E-mail:
URL:
Office Hours: *****
Graduate Student Instructors: ******
Messages for the instructor and Graduate Student Instructors (GSIs)
may be left on E-mail, or in their mailboxes in Tolman Hall (3rd floor).
This course will examine the nature of human consciousness from the interdisciplinary perspective of
cognitive science. Topics include: the mind-body problem (and psychosomatics); introspection and the
analysis of consciousness; the explicit, the implicit, and the unconscious; anesthesia and coma; sleep and
dreams; “hysteria” and hypnosis; daydreaming, absorption, and meditation; consciousness and the self;
and the origins of consciousness.
Scientific Studies of Consciousness
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Prerequisites
This is an advanced, upper-division course. Students should have completed Psychology 1 or 2, or
Cognitive Science 1; additional recommended preparation also includes Psychology 120 or Cognitive
Science 100. Psychology 122, 126, and 127 also provide appropriate background.
Readings
Required (available for purchase in the ASUC Bookstore and elsewhere)
Revonsuo, A. (2010). Consciousness: The Science of Subjectivity. New York: Psychology Press.
Paperback Edition: ISBN 978-1-84169-726-0.
Searle, J.R. (1997). The Mystery of Consciousness. New York: New York Review of Books. Paperback
Edition: ISBN 0-940322-06-4.
Lodge, D. (2001). Thinks…. New York: Viking/Penguin. Paperback Edition: ISBN 978-0142000861.
Recommended (available for purchase at your favorite bookstore or on line)
Farthing, G.W. (1992). The Psychology of Consciousness. Englewood Cliffs, N.J.: Prentice-Hall. Out of
print, but still available from some vendors; PDF available on bSpace.
Velmans, M., & Schneider, S. (Eds.). (2007). Blackwell Companion to Consciousness. Malden, Ma.:
Blackwell.
Zelazo, P.D., Moscovitch, M., & Thompson, E. (Eds.). (2007). The Cambridge Handbook of
Consciousness. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Banks, W. (Ed.). (2009). Encyclopedia of Consciousness. Kidlington, U.K.: Elsevier. Never mind that it
costs $500 for the two-volume set.
Bayne, T., Cleeremans, A., & Wilken, P. (Eds.). (2009). The Oxford Companion to Consciousness.
Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Also of Interest
Baars, B.J., Banks, W.P., & Newman, J.B. (Eds.). (2003). Essential Sources in the Scientific Study of
Consciousness. Cambridge, Ma.: MIT Press.
Blackmore, S. (2004). Consciousness: An Introduction. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Blackmore, S. (2005). Consciousness: A Very Short Introduction. Oxford: oxford University Press.
Block, N., Flanagan, O., & Guzeldere, G. (Eds.). (1997). The Nature of Consciousness: Philosophical
Debates. Cambridge, Ma.: MIT Press.
Bowers, K.S. (1976). Hypnosis for the Seriously Curious. Monterey, Ca.: Brooks/Cole.
Carter, R. (2002). Exploring Consciousness. Berkeley, Ca.: University of California Press.
Cohen, J.D., & Schooler, J.W. (Eds.). (1997). Scientific Approaches to Consciousness. Mahwah, N.J.:
Erlbaum.
Scientific Studies of Consciousness
Hobson, J.A. (1995). Sleep. San Francisco: Freeman.
Hobson, J.A. (1998). Consciousness. San Francisco: Freeman. An update, mostly, of Sleep.
Hobson, J.A. (1999). Dreaming as Delirium: How the Brain Goes Out of Its Mind. Cambridge, Ma.: MIT
Press. A combination, more or less, of Sleep and Consciousness.
Hobson, J.A. (2001). The Dream Drugstore: Chemically Altered States of Consciousness. Cambridge,
Ma.: MIT Press. An update of Dreaming as Delirium.
Hobson, J.A. (2003). Dreaming: An Introduction to the Science of Sleep. New York: Oxford University
Press. An update of The Dream Drugstore.
Lodge, D. (2002). Consciousness and the Novel: Connected Essays. Cambridge, Ma.: Harvard
University Press. A literary-critical companion of sort to Thinks...
Wallace, B. & Fisher, L.E. (1999). Consciousness and Behavior. 4th Ed. Boston, Ma.: Allyn & Bacon.
Supplementary Materials
A set of Lecture Supplements is available on the course website. These include summaries of the
lectures, as well as additional material that would be included in lectures if time permitted. They also
include some articles I have written (or in some cases co-authored) on various topics pertaining to
consciousness, as well as links to materials written by others. Students will not be held responsible for
material in the lecture supplements that is not also presented in readings or lectures. But those who
intend to major in Psychology or Cognitive Science, and others, may find them informative and useful.
The set of Lecture Supplements is continuously updated.
A set of Lecture Illustrations will also posted to the course website. These are available in two “handout”
versions: 3 slides to a page, good for notetaking but also wasteful of trees; and 6 slides to a page, better
for the Earth but somewhat more cramped. Preliminary versions are available before each series of
lectures begins; a final, updated version is made available after each lecture series concludes.
Lecture notes may be available for this course from ASUC Lecture Notes Online: Address: 410 Eshleman
Hall; URL: http://notes.berkeley.edu; Email: [email protected]; Phone: (510)705-2794.
Course Website
Psychology 129 has a website accessible to those who are formally enrolled in (or waitlisted for) the
course, including Cognitive Science 102 and Psychology 222. This website includes a copy of the
syllabus, lecture illustrations, and supplements (including lecture summaries), as well as links to other
resources related to psychology. It is updated from time to time during the semester. To access the
course website, point your browser to the bSpace homepage at: http://bspace.berkeley.edu.
There you should see a tab for ***, which is this course (if you don’t see it, it’s probably because you’re not
formally enrolled or waitlisted; search for it in bSpace or contact me and I’ll add you to the subscription
list). You may also see tabs for other courses for which you are registered. Click on the tab to enter the
course website.
If you have any problems logging in, click on the “Help” link or contact the technical support staff at the
UCB Educational Technology Services at: http://ets.berkeley.edu.
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The course website includes a Forum, “Comments and Queries” which will be used for a wide variety of
communications among students, GSIs, and the instructor. From time to time I will post announcements
(e.g., about exams) concerning the course; I may also post corrections and supplements to my lectures.
Students may also post comments and questions concerning the readings, lectures, and other items
relevant to psychology; note that these messages will be distributed to the entire class. Responses from
the instructor or the GSIs also will be posted to the entire list, so that everyone may benefit from the
exchange (so don’t post anything of a personal or confidential nature!). Please do not send questions on
course content to the instructor’s private e-mail address; post them to the course website instead – so that
everyone can benefit from the exchange. If you have a communication of a personal nature, such as a
family emergency, you should send private e-mail to the instructor and your GSI.
To post a comment of query concerning readings, lectures, or other relevant topics:
• Go to the course website on bSpace.
• Click on “Forums” in the navigation bar on the left.
• Click on the “Comments and Queries” topic.
• Click on “Post New Thread” in the upper right of the screen.
• Give your comment or query a “Title”.
• Write your message in the “Description” box, just as you would with a text-editing program.
• Scroll down to the bottom of the page and click on “Post Message”
The instructor or GSIs will try to respond within 2 business days.
Examinations
There will be one (1) midterm examination (50 points) and a final examination (100 points). Both
examinations will be in short-answer and short-essay format suitable for efficient and reliable grading. The
midterm examination will be conducted in class on a date announced in the attached syllabus, and is
noncumulative. The final exam is mostly noncumulative as well, but will include a cumulative portion. For
Spring Semester 2009, the final exam is scheduled for ****, at a place to be announced later.
Students whose academic or personal obligations may conflict with a scheduled exam should consult with
the instructor in advance. In particular, students should plan their end-of-semester travel schedules to
permit them to take the final exam at the scheduled time. The final exam will not be rescheduled.
There are no make-up exams. If you have a personal emergency that prevents you from taking an exam
at the scheduled time, leave a telephone or E-mail message with the instructor, take care of whatever the
problem is, and then consult the instructor as soon as possible afterwards.
Discussion Sections
Weekly discussion sections will be conducted by the Graduate Student Instructors (GSIs). The purpose of
the discussion sections is to supplement the lectures, and to give a formal teaching experience to the
graduate students serving as GSIs. Each meeting will consist of a mini-lecture, approximately 25 minutes
in length, with the remainder of the class devoted to questions and discussion. Discussion sections will
not be used for review purposes prior to midterm and final examinations (review sessions will be
scheduled separately).
Discussion sections will meet the first week.
Attendance at discussion sections is required, and both attendance and participation will count toward the
final grade (25 points).
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Forum Postings
The remaining portion of the section grade (50 points) will be accrued through written work posted to the
course website. There are nine (9) such exercises, and they count five (5) points each on an all-or-none
basis (just like a neuron). Students will receive full credit for posting their materials to the appropriate
“Forum” (corresponding to the assignment) and “Topic” (corresponding to their discussion section number)
of the course website by the deadlines given in the syllabus.
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Note that the deadlines are all one minute before midnight, just like Cinderella, according to the official
time recorded by the computer at the time of posting.
Postings should be no longer than 250 words (the equivalent of one double-spaced 81/2 x 11” page of
12-point type). Because the essays are graded on an all-or-none basis, there is no premium on
length: a 49-word essay garners the same full credit as a 249-word essay, provided that it meets the
other requirements.
Essays must be in complete sentences, with no misspellings (use your spelling and grammar checker
before posting), or you may lose full credit.
They must also be based on materials presented in lectures and readings, supplemented by your own
reflections. No additional reading is required or encouraged.
It is recommended that you prepare the essays off-line, and then upload them to the course website.
Other than with respect to pertinence and timeliness of posting, and minimal requirements of grammar and
spelling, the postings will not be graded. However, the instructor, GSIs, and other students may comment
on the contents of the postings (the point of the exercise is to get you writing about what you’re thinking
with respect to the topics of the course). No late postings will be accepted, so pay attention to the
deadlines.
To create a “Forum” posting:
• Go to the course website on bSpace.
• Click on “Forums” in the navigation bar on the left.
• Click on the Forum corresponding to the relevant assignment, such as “Forum Posting #1”.
• Click on the Topic corresponding to your discussion section, such as “Section 101, Th 12-1”.
• Click on “Post New Thread” in the upper left corner of the page.
• Give your posting a “Title”.
• Write your message in the “Description” box, just as you would with a text-editing software (in fact,
you may wish to prepare your posting in advance using your favorite text editor, and then copy
and paste into bSpace).
• Scroll down to the bottom of the page and click on “Post Message”
Grading Policy
Final grades will be based on and on the following:
• midterm examination (50 points)
• final examination (100 points)
• attendance and participation in discussion sections (25 points)
• Forum postings (50 points).
The instructor's policy is that the accumulation of at least 90% of the total possible points (i.e., 202 points)
should result in some kind of A (i.e., A or A-), while accumulation of at least 80% of the total possible
points (i.e., 180 points) should result in some kind of B (i.e., B-, B, or B+); those who accumulate more
than 50% of the total possible points (i.e., more than 112 points) are guaranteed some kind of C (i.e., C-,
C, or C+); those who accumulate more than 25% of the total possible points (i.e., more than 56 points) will
receive some kind of D. If necessary, the distribution of final grades in this course will be adjusted to
conform to the overall distribution of grades in upper-division courses at UCB.
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Changes to Your Class Schedule
Students who do not appear for their schedule discussion sections during the first three weeks of class are
liable to be dropped from the course. Students may no longer automatically drop courses up to the last
day of instruction. Late or retroactive “Drops for Non-Attendance” or “Adds for Attendance” will no longer
be granted automatically.
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Syllabus
Week 1
Introduction
Required: Revonsuo, Introduction to the Book (pp. xx-xxvi), and to various portions of Part 2 (pp. 99-100,
151-152, 175-176)
Recommended: G.W. Farthing, The Psychology of Consciousness (1992), Chapter 1.
Lecture Supplement: Introduction.
Week 2
Introspection: The Analysis of Consciousness Required:
Revonsuo, Chapters 1-3.
Recommended: Farthing, Chapters, 2, 3, 7.
Lecture Supplements: Introspection, Psychophysics.
Forum Posting #1
Due 11:59 PM,
Topic: What Kind of Intentionality is Involved in Conscious Emotional States?
Week 3
The Mind-Body Problem
Required: Revonsuo, Chapters 7, 9; J. Searle, The Mystery of Consciousness (whole book).
Recommended: Farthing, Chapters 4, 5.
Lecture Supplements: Mind-Body Problem, Neural Correlates, Psychosomatics, Spirits, Zombies.
Week 4
Forum Posting #2
Due 11:59 PM,
Topic: Is Searle’s “Biological Naturalism” Dualistic?
Attention and Automaticity Required:
Revonsuo, Chapters 10-11.
Lecture Supplements: Automaticity, Free Will.
Forum Posting #3
Due 11:59 PM,
Topic: Does Automaticity Compromise Free Will?
Week 5
No Class (Presidents' Day)
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Spring 2011
The Explicit and the Implicit Required: Revonsuo, Chapter 4-5.
Recommended: Farthing, Chapter 6.
Lecture Supplements: Implicit Cognition, Emotion/Motivation.
Forum Posting #4
Due 11:59 PM, Topic: Can Motives
be Unconscious?
Week 6
Anesthesia and Coma Required:
Revonsuo, Chapter 8.
Recommended: Farthing, Chapters 9, 18, 19.
Lecture Supplements: Anesthesia, Coma.
Forum Posting #5
Due 11:59 PM,
Topic: What Should be the Medical Criterion for Consciousness?
Week 7
Week 8
Catch-Up and Review
Midterm Examination
Conducted in class. Multiple-choice and short-answer questions covering lectures and required readings
from January 21 through March 16, inclusive. Exam must be completed in ink to be eligible for regrading.
Week 9
No Class (Spring Recess)
Read Lodge’s Thinks… while on break, in preparation for discussion in Discussion Section.
Week 10
Sleep and Dreams
Required: Revonsuo, Chapters 12-13.
Recommended: Farthing, Chapters 10-13.
Lecture Supplements: Sleep, Dreams.
Forum Posting #6
Due 11:59 PM,
Topic: Are We Aware of Dreams as They Happen?
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Week 11
Spring 2011
“Hysteria” and Hypnosis
Required: Revonsuo, Chapter 14.
Requied: J.F. Kihlstrom, “Dissociative Disorders”, in P.B. Sutker & H.E. Adams (Eds.), Comprehensive
Handbook of Psychopathology, 3rd ed. (pp. 259-276). Available on bSpace website.
Required: Kihlstrom, “Consciousness in Hypnosis”, in P.D. Zelazo, M. Moscovitch, & E. Thompson
(Eds.), Cambridge Handbook of Consciousness (pp. 445-479). Available on bSpace website.
Recommended: Farthing, Chapters 14-16.
Lecture Supplements: “Hysteria”, Hypnosis.
Forum Posting #7
Due 11:59 PM,
Topic: Does Hypnosis Relieve Pain or Only One’s Awareness of It?
Week 12
Daydreaming, Absorption, and Meditation Required:
Revonsuo, Chapter 15.
Recommended: Farthing, Chapters 8, 17.
Lecture Supplements: Absorption, Meditation.
Forum Posting #8
Due 11:59 PM,
Will the Effects of Meditation Differ, Depending on the Context, Secular or Religious?
Consciousness and the Self Required:
Week 13
Revonsuo, Chapter 6.
Lecture Supplement: Self-Consciousness.
Forum Posting #9
Due 11:59 PM,
Topic: Is There a Difference between Consciousness and Self-Consciousness?
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Week 14
Spring 2011
The Origins of Consciousness
Required: Gallup, G.G., Anderson, J.R., & Shillito, D.J. (2003). The mirror test. In M. Bekoff, c. Allen, &
G.M. Burghardt (Eds.), the Cognitive Animal: Empirical and Theoretical Perspectives on Animal Cognition.
Cambridge, Ma.: MIT Press. Available on bSpace website.
Required: Penn, D.C., & Povinelli, D.J. (2007). On the lack of evidence that non-human animals
possess anything remotely resembling a ‘theory of mind’. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society
B, 362, 731-744. Available on bSpace website.
Lecture Supplement: Development, Conclusion
Forum Posting #10
Due 11:59 PM,
Topic: Briefly Review of Lodge’s Thinks…, From the Perspective of This Course
Week 15
Final Examination
Conducted 3:00 - 6:00 PM, location to be announced. There will be a review session scheduled during
the “RRR Period”, May 2 or 4. Exam must be completed in ink to be eligible for regarding.
Part I (1 hour) will be a noncumulative exam consisting of a mix of multiple-choice and short-answer
questions covering lectures and required readings since March 16.
Part II (1 hour) will be a cumulative exam consisting of a mix of short-answer and short essays covering all
lectures and required readings since the beginning of the course.
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Psychology 222 Consciousness Spring 2011
This course will examine the nature of human consciousness from the interdisciplinary perspective of
cognitive science. It is intended for graduate students; undergraduates may enroll only if they present
exceptional preparation in cognitive psychology and cognitive science (including, preferably, the
undergraduate version of this course), and then only by permission of the instructor.
Students enrolled in Psychology 222 are expected to attend the lectures (though not the discussion
sections) for Psychology 129/Cognitive Science 102, “Scientific Approaches to Consciousness”. These
lectures will be given Mondays and Wednesdays, 10:00 -11:00 AM. They will also participate in a
separate discussion/seminar section, led by the instructor. This meeting will permit discussion of lecture
material. In addition, by consensus, we may also cover a specialized topic in depth. The
discussion/seminar section will meet Mondays, 12:00-2:00 PM, in 2129 Tolman.
Grades will be based on participation in the discussion sections. In addition, students are required to
post a comment to the Psych 222 “Forum” on the course website, based on the readings, prior to the
course session. Comments should be no more than 250 words in length (shorter is fine, so long as the
comments are substantive), and can include questions – so long as the questions are in the context of a
substantive comment). Comments, including queries, should be posted no later than 11:59 PM on the
Sunday before the relevant class session.
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