Introduction to Cognitive Science II
Approaches to Mind, Brain, Behavior
5.3.2008
Nicole Rossmanith
Andreas Reichelt
Mehrdad Farahmand
!
Announcement:
Paolo Petta: Computer Models of the Mind
adv. AI module & research project!
today: 14h IMKAI
!
Schedule of Next Sessions
regular teamwork sessions:
every thursday 17:30-19, NIG HS 3E
(first session after easter break: april 3rd
no teamwork on april 10th!
blocked seminar sessions:
monday, march 31st, 9-13, HS 3E
friday, april 4th, 10-13, HS 3E
monday, april 7th, 9-13, HS 3C
friday, april 11th, 9-13, HS 3E
further dates TBA
→ Seminar overview
→ What is cognition?
→ Where does our knowledge about
cognition come from?
→ Instructions for easter activities
Rossmanith, Reichelt SS08
→ Seminar overview
→ What is cognition?
→ Where does our knowledge about
cognition come from?
→ Instructions for easter activities
Rossmanith, Reichelt SS08
Seminar overview
1 seminar goals
- what do we want to learn? approaching the mind
- how can we learn?
studying = growing into research:
interaction individual ↔ culture
- role of this seminar in the study program
2 means of implementation
- 3 strands
- cooperative work
3 implementation
- course structure
- activities & credits
4 the essence: what you (hopefully ;-) ) take home from this SE
Rossmanith, Reichelt SS08
1: Approaching the Mind
• What are interesting aspects of the mind/cognition?
[phenomena]
• How can we investigate the mind / these questions?
[approaches]
• How do various research traditions within and beyond
cognitive science carry out their respective investigations?
[methods developed in
specific research cultures]
Rossmanith, Reichelt SS08
1: Studying = Growing into Research
?
&
100
80
60
40
20
0
1.
2.
3.
4.
Qrtl. Qrtl. Qrtl. Qrtl.
interaction
environment,
information:
Individual
active contribution of each of you,
what you as individuals bring
into research
- experiencing
(in everyday life and in science)
- asking questions
lecture
texts
specific methods
living culture to
be immersed in
analysis,
implementation
- “thinking things through“
continously differentiating concepts communication
(modification
- trying things out/“playing“
integration)
Tradition, disciplines, cultures
historically developed disciplines/
different traditions dealing with the
soul/mind/brain/behavior
scientific cultures:
institutions
communities of practice
teaching contexts
role in and relationship to the
community: identity
developing specific interests and research
questions and strategies to tackle them
Rossmanith, Reichelt SS08
1: Supporting Growing into Research?
Individual
[phenomena]
- What is cognition?
- What ways are there
in general to learn
about cognition?
- Approaches:
hands on:
try out different approaches
for yourself
analysis: what are different
approaches
actually doing?
mutual
support
Tradition, disciplines, cultures
[method]
- What is your experience with the
cogsci scientific culture(s)?
- CogSci in larger context:
different traditions dealing with
soul/mind/brain/behavior
- CogSci & participing disciplines:
what are they actually doing?
what is their relation?
- Approaches + Wissenschaftsth.
- Scientific cultures
- Interdisciplinarity
- Your identity
developing specific interests and research questions and strategies to tackle them
Rossmanith, Reichelt SS08
1: The Role of this Seminar in the Study Program
• Relation to the other courses in this semester
– relating and integrating the three columns
Rossmanith, Reichelt SS08
1: The Role of this Seminar in the Study Program
Rossmanith, Reichelt SS08
1: The Role of this Seminar in the Study Program
• Relation to the other courses in this semester
– relating and integrating the three columns
– communicating & reflecting on what you are doing in the
other courses
Rossmanith, Reichelt SS08
1: Goals and Role of the Seminar within the Curriculum
Rossmanith, Reichelt SS08
1: The Role of this Seminar in the Study Program
• Relation to the other courses in this semester
– relating and integrating the three columns
– communicating & reflecting on what you are doing in the
other courses
• Function with regard to the entire curriculum
– broadening & deepening previously aquired knowledge
– developing personal interests and research questions
– evaluating possible ways of addressing these questions
Rossmanith, Reichelt SS08
2: Means of Implementation: 3 Strands
• hands on
– trying out approaches to mind, brain, behavior
yourself
• fieldwork
– explore different research cultures, live!
• integrative framework
– developing a background for orientation,
reflection, and integration
– historical context and “applied philosophy of
science“
Rossmanith, Reichelt SS08
2: Means of Implementation: Cooperative Work
• bring in your background and expertise
• running the seminar together by individually
taking charge of specific aspects
– e.g. coordinating and managing one of the miniresearch or fieldwork groups
Rossmanith, Reichelt SS08
3: Seminar Structure: This is where the threads should come together….
other courses basic/
[schematic
advanced
depiction]
modules
research
project
topic
seminar
learning journal
regular teamwork sessions
preparation
approaches: hands on research in progress
analysis
presentation
preparation
culture: fieldwork in progress
analysis
presentation
blocked seminar sessions
„theory“: developing a background for orientation, reflection, and integration
historical context and “applied philosophy of science“
Rossmanith, Reichelt SS08
Theoretical Scope: Perspectives on Investigating the Mind/Psyche/Soul:
covered in
first term
Rossmanith, Reichelt SS08
Theoretical Scope: Perspectives on Investigating the Mind/Psyche/Soul:
Enlarging the view by zooming out and deepening the view by zooming in….
Fin de Siecle:
biology
physiology
„pre-history“ of
mindscience:
psychology
an out of space
perspective
philosophy
H3
Close up: RP
neighbouring fields and disciplines
ethology
cybernetics
behaviorism
gestalt
psych
covered in
first term
future?
H2
cognitive revolution
H1
linguistics
neighbouring/other disciplines
beware: cognitive science centered view…
Close up: Wth
ad historic blocks: relative sizes don‘t show actual range of
periods but rather level of zoom applied….
Rossmanith, Reichelt SS08
3: Seminar Structure: This is where the threads should come together….
other courses basic/
[schematic
advanced
depiction]
modules
research
project
topic
seminar
learning journal
regular teamwork sessions
preparation
approaches: hands on research in progress
analysis
presentation
preparation
culture: fieldwork in progress
analysis
presentation
blocked seminar sessions
intro
intro
H1
H2
Wth
Wth
H3
RP
Closeup:Wth
culture
RP
Closeup:Wth
explanation
integration
Rossmanith, Reichelt SS08
3: Activities & Credits
mindful + active ;-) presence: 2 ECTS = 50h
seminar 1 ECTS = 25h
teamwork 1 ECTS = 25h
activities outside the sessions: 3 ECTS = 75h
regular text assignments: ~10h
learning journal (share of this seminar) ~10h
hands on projects ~35h
specific banana project ~20h
Please keep a time account: put down how long you work on what
doesn‘t enter into grade
helps us to tune assignments from hypothetical to actual workload….
Note: These are minimal requirements.
No one is going to stop you in your zest for action ;-)
Rossmanith, Reichelt SS08
3: Assigning the parts
for sharing bananas
exploring & analysing different research cultures:
development of methodology +
coordination, analysis
practical „fieldwork“, analysis
Otto Köhler‘s
Chimpanzees:
problem solving
by insight?
Otto Rössler:
always bringing bananas one for each student to his lectures
trying out, comparing and analysing general methods of
approaching the mind:
experience
behavior
(neuro)physiology
modeling
theoretical analysis and integration:
history
culture
Wissenschaftstheorie
esp. „explanation“
Rossmanith, Reichelt SS08
Schedule of Next Sessions
regular teamwork sessions:
every thursday 17:30-19, NIG HS 3E
(first session after easter break: april 3rd
no teamwork on april 10th!
blocked seminar sessions:
monday, march 31st, 9-13, HS 3E
friday, april 4th, 10-13, HS 3E
monday, april 7th, 9-13, HS 3C
friday, april 11th, 9-13, HS 3E assigning the banana-parts
further dates TBA
teamwork
Seminar this week:
intro
preparation
of culture
1
seminar
intro
preparation
of approach
1
Wednesday
Thursday
The essence:
Your Journey through the Study Program
• identity: who are you?
– developing academic and social affiliations
• interests: what do you want?
– to understand about mind, brain, behavior
• future: where are you going?
– developing your goals and identifying your options
Rossmanith, Reichelt SS08