Graduate Courses

To see a complete list of courses offered and their descriptions, visit the online course catalog.

For current course schedule information and registration, visit SIS.

Spring 2023

Cognitive Neuroimaging Methods in High-Level Vision
AS.050.612 (01)

This course is an advanced seminar and research practicum course. It will provide the opportunity to learn about fMRI methods used in the field of vision science and for students to have hands-on experience to develop, design and analyze a research study on topics in the cognitive neuroscience field of high-level vision. In the first part of the course students will read recent fMRI journal papers and learn about common fMRI designs and analysis methods; in the second part of the course students will conduct a research study to address a research question developed from readings. Students are expected to write a paper in a short journal article format at the end of the course and to present their results in front of the class. Research topics will vary but with special focus on topics in high-level visual processing. Cross-listed with Neuroscience and Psychology.

Credits: 3.00
Level: Graduate
Days/Times: TTh 10:30AM - 11:45AM
Instructor: Li, Donald
Room: Krieger 111
Status: Open
Seats Available: 3/3
PosTag(s): n/a

Semantics I
AS.050.617 (01)

Also offered as AS.050.317. This is an introduction to the study of meaning in natural language. We address the conceptual and empirical issues in semantic theory and introduce some formal machinery that has been developed to deal with such problems. After discussing foundational questions, we turn to formal semantics and pragmatics, as well as their interfaces with syntax and the lexicon. Specific topics include presupposition, type-driven composition, quantification, lexical aspect, argument structure, and lexical representations of meaning.

Credits: 3.00
Level: Graduate
Days/Times: MW 3:00PM - 4:15PM
Instructor: Rawlins, Kyle
Room: Krieger 111
Status: Open
Seats Available: 5/5
PosTag(s): n/a

Intro to Neurolinguistics
AS.050.636 (01)

This course provides an introductory survey of the cognitive neuroscience of language – a multidisciplinary field in the intersection of Linguistics, Psycholinguistics, and Neuroscience. We will explore current research on the neural bases of the perception, production, and acquisition or human language in neuro-typical and impaired individuals. Also listed as AS.050.236.

Credits: 3.00
Level: Graduate
Days/Times: TTh 1:30PM - 2:45PM
Instructor: Yarmolinskaya, Julia S
Room: Krieger 111
Status: Open
Seats Available: 5/5
PosTag(s): n/a

First Language Acquisition
AS.050.648 (01)

This course provides an introduction to the fields of first and bilingual language acquisition by looking at questions such as the following: Can the grammar of a native language be learned solely on the basis of noticing statistical correlations among words? How does native language acquisition explain — or is explained by — the universal properties, shared by all languages, of words and grammars? How does being exposed to multiple languages from birth affect language acquisition and what happens when a child is not exposed to any language early in life? This is the first part of a two-part course sequence on first and second language acquisition.

Credits: 3.00
Level: Graduate
Days/Times: TTh 3:00PM - 4:15PM
Instructor: Yarmolinskaya, Julia S
Room: Krieger 111
Status: Open
Seats Available: 5/5
PosTag(s): n/a

Language & Thought
AS.050.658 (01)

Have you ever wondered about the relationships between language and thought? Philosophers, linguists, psychologists, evolutionary theorists and cognitive scientists have too and this course will survey the current thinking on this matter. Classical papers such as those by Whorf and Sapir, more recent philosophical papers by people such as Fodor and Dennett, and recent empirical work by linguists and psycholingists on the relationship between language and thinking in development and in adults will be covered. Discussions will focus on the theoretically possible relationships between language and thought and the empirical data that speak to these.

Credits: 3.00
Level: Graduate
Days/Times: T 1:30PM - 4:00PM
Instructor: Landau, Barbara
Room: Krieger 134A
Status: Approval Required
Seats Available: 5/5
PosTag(s): n/a

Bayesian Inference
AS.050.671 (01)

Also offered as AS.050.371. This course introduces techniques for computational modeling of aspects of human cognition, including perception, categorization, and induction. Possible topics include maximum likelihood and Bayesian inference, structured statistical models (including hierarchical and graphical models), nonparametric models. The course emphasizes the close connections among data analysis, theory development, and modeling, with examples drawn from language and vision.

Credits: 3.00
Level: Graduate
Days/Times: MW 12:00PM - 1:15PM
Instructor: Wilson, Colin
Room: Krieger 111
Status: Open
Seats Available: 5/5
PosTag(s): n/a

Probabilistic Models of the Visual Cortex
AS.050.675 (01)

The course gives an introduction to computational models of the mammalian visual cortex. It covers topics in low-, mid-, and high-level vision. It briefly discusses the relevant evidence from anatomy, electrophysiology, imaging (e.g., fMRI), and psychophysics. It concentrates on mathematical modeling of these phenomena taking into account recent progress in probabilistic models of computer vision and developments in machine learning, such as deep networks. Also offered as EN.601.685. Required Background: Calculus I and experience in a programming language (Python preferred).

Credits: 3.00
Level: Graduate
Days/Times: TTh 9:00AM - 10:15AM
Instructor: Yuille, Alan L
Room: Krieger 170
Status: Approval Required
Seats Available: 68/68
PosTag(s): CSCI-APPL

Computational Social Cognition
AS.050.683 (01)

Humans are a fundamentally social species with amazing capabilities beyond that of any other biological or artificial system. Yet the cognitive and neural computations underlying our vast social abilities are largely unknown. Advances in machine learning and naturalistic neuroscience paradigms are revolutionizing the way cognitive scientists study social cognition. This course will explore new research in computational social cognition, drawing from topics in development, artificial intelligence, and cognitive neuroscience. Our goal is to understand the motivation, methodology and implications of recent research. The class will be heavily focused on social vision, but will also explore other aspects of social cognition including theory of mind and moral reasoning. This is a discussion-based class that will consist primarily of reading and discussing primary research articles, as well as student-led presentations. While there will not be any hands-on computational exercises, a background in both cognitive neuroscience and computational methods are important to understanding the readings and other course material.

Credits: 3.00
Level: Graduate
Days/Times: TTh 12:00PM - 1:15PM
Instructor: Isik, Leyla
Room: Krieger 302
Status: Approval Required
Seats Available: 5/5
PosTag(s): n/a

Directed Readings in Cognitive Science
AS.050.800 (01)

Directed readings on current topics in cognitive science. Instructor approval required.

Credits: 1.00 - 10.00
Level: Graduate Independent Academic Work
Days/Times:
Instructor: Landau, Barbara
Room:
Status: Approval Required
Seats Available: 5/5
PosTag(s): n/a

Directed Readings in Cognitive Science
AS.050.800 (02)

Directed readings on current topics in cognitive science. Instructor approval required.

Credits: 1.00 - 10.00
Level: Graduate Independent Academic Work
Days/Times:
Instructor: Legendre, Geraldine
Room:
Status: Approval Required
Seats Available: 5/5
PosTag(s): n/a

Directed Readings in Cognitive Science
AS.050.800 (03)

Directed readings on current topics in cognitive science. Instructor approval required.

Credits: 1.00 - 10.00
Level: Graduate Independent Academic Work
Days/Times:
Instructor: McCloskey, Michael E
Room:
Status: Approval Required
Seats Available: 5/5
PosTag(s): n/a

Directed Readings in Cognitive Science
AS.050.800 (04)

Directed readings on current topics in cognitive science. Instructor approval required.

Credits: 1.00 - 10.00
Level: Graduate Independent Academic Work
Days/Times:
Instructor: Bonner, Mick
Room:
Status: Approval Required
Seats Available: 5/5
PosTag(s): n/a

Directed Readings in Cognitive Science
AS.050.800 (05)

Directed readings on current topics in cognitive science. Instructor approval required.

Credits: 1.00 - 10.00
Level: Graduate Independent Academic Work
Days/Times:
Instructor: Rapp, Brenda C
Room:
Status: Approval Required
Seats Available: 5/5
PosTag(s): n/a

Directed Readings in Cognitive Science
AS.050.800 (06)

Directed readings on current topics in cognitive science. Instructor approval required.

Credits: 1.00 - 10.00
Level: Graduate Independent Academic Work
Days/Times:
Instructor: Rawlins, Kyle
Room:
Status: Approval Required
Seats Available: 5/5
PosTag(s): n/a

Directed Readings in Cognitive Science
AS.050.800 (07)

Directed readings on current topics in cognitive science. Instructor approval required.

Credits: 1.00 - 10.00
Level: Graduate Independent Academic Work
Days/Times:
Instructor: Smolensky, Paul
Room:
Status: Approval Required
Seats Available: 5/5
PosTag(s): n/a

Directed Readings in Cognitive Science
AS.050.800 (08)

Directed readings on current topics in cognitive science. Instructor approval required.

Credits: 1.00 - 10.00
Level: Graduate Independent Academic Work
Days/Times:
Instructor: Wilson, Colin
Room:
Status: Approval Required
Seats Available: 5/5
PosTag(s): n/a

Directed Readings in Cognitive Science
AS.050.800 (09)

Directed readings on current topics in cognitive science. Instructor approval required.

Credits: 1.00 - 10.00
Level: Graduate Independent Academic Work
Days/Times:
Instructor: Isik, Leyla
Room:
Status: Approval Required
Seats Available: 5/5
PosTag(s): n/a

Research Seminar in Cognitive Neuropsychology
AS.050.801 (01)

Participants in this graduate seminar will read and discuss current research articles in cognitive neuropsychology of vision or language, and present their own research.

Credits: 2.00
Level: Graduate
Days/Times:
Instructor: McCloskey, Michael E
Room: Krieger 143
Status: Open
Seats Available: 8/8
PosTag(s): n/a

Research Seminar in Cognitive Neuroscience and Machine Learning
AS.050.806 (01)

Participants in this seminar will read and discuss current research articles in the fields of cognitive neuroscience, computational neuroscience, machine learning, and artificial intelligence. The seminar will focus on research that provides insights into the representations and algorithms of the human brain, with an emphasis on vision and natural semantic understanding.

Credits: 2.00
Level: Graduate
Days/Times:
Instructor: Bonner, Mick
Room:
Status: Approval Required
Seats Available: 10/10
PosTag(s): n/a

Research Seminar in Language & Cognition
AS.050.811 (01)

A specialized research seminar for individuals researching language acquisition, cognitive development and the interface between language and cognition. Students must actively carry out empirical or theoretical research in these areas. Permission required.

Credits: 1.50
Level: Graduate
Days/Times:
Instructor: Landau, Barbara
Room: Krieger 231
Status: Open
Seats Available: 8/8
PosTag(s): n/a

Research Seminar in Computational Cognitive Neuroscience
AS.050.812 (01)

This seminar will discuss papers and ongoing research in the areas of computational cognitive neuroscience, with a focus on different areas of visual and social perception.

Credits: 1.50
Level: Graduate
Days/Times:
Instructor: Isik, Leyla
Room: Krieger 119
Status: Open
Seats Available: 8/8
PosTag(s): n/a

Research Seminar in Computer Vision
AS.050.814 (01)

This seminar is based on topics in computational vision with the option of attending additional subgroup meetings on specific topics.

Credits: 2.00
Level: Graduate
Days/Times: F 11:00AM - 1:00PM
Instructor: Yuille, Alan L
Room:
Status: Open
Seats Available: 20/20
PosTag(s): n/a

Research Seminar in Semantics
AS.050.817 (01)

A critical analysis of current issues and debates in natural language semantics. Discussion of on-going research. Permission required.

Credits: 2.00
Level: Graduate
Days/Times:
Instructor: Rawlins, Kyle
Room: Krieger 105
Status: Open
Seats Available: 8/8
PosTag(s): n/a

Research Seminar Syntax
AS.050.822 (01)

A critical analysis of current issues and debates in theoretical syntax. Discussion of on-going research.

Credits: 3.00
Level: Graduate
Days/Times:
Instructor: Legendre, Geraldine
Room: Krieger 234C
Status: Open
Seats Available: 8/8
PosTag(s): COGS-LING

Research Seminar in Formal Approaches to Cognitive Science
AS.050.826 (01)

Readings and research presentations on varying topics in mathematics, computation, and formal linguistics with bearing on cognitive science.

Credits: 2.00
Level: Graduate
Days/Times:
Instructor: Wilson, Colin
Room: Krieger 234C
Status: Open
Seats Available: 8/8
PosTag(s): n/a

Research Seminar on Formal Theory in Cognitive Science
AS.050.829 (01)

Topics range from mathematical analysis of neural networks to computational studies of linguistic structure. Focus is ongoing research and current literature.

Credits: 2.00
Level: Graduate
Days/Times:
Instructor: Smolensky, Paul
Room:
Status: Approval Required
Seats Available: 8/8
PosTag(s): n/a

Research in Cognitive Science
AS.050.839 (01)