Advanced Cognitive Neuroscience (Writing Intensive)

PSYCHOLOGICAL & BRAIN SCIENCES 4413

An intensive, case-study based approach to the underlying principles and mechanisms of brain function that give rise to complex human cognitive behavior. Emphasis will be placed on understanding and evaluating cutting-edge neuroscience research that has yielded new insights into the organization and structure of higher mental processes. Students will develop critical thinking and writing skills via a strong class participation component and a writing intensive format. Topics include perception, attention, memory, language, emotion, and executive control. Writing Intensive. Declared Psychology majors will be given priority over others to enroll. PREREQ: Psych 100B, and either Psych 3401 or Psy 344/Bio 3411 or Psych 3604.
Course Attributes: FA NSM; AR NSM; AS NSM; AS WI I

Personality Development Across the Life Span

PSYCHOLOGICAL & BRAIN SCIENCES 4355

This seminar examines how individual differences develop over the lifespan. Or, in other words, how we become who we are. The scope of the class covers a multitude of individual differences constructs (e.g., happiness, intelligence, goals), but a particular focus will be on personality traits. Questions that will be examined include: How early in the lifespan does one's personality emerge? How much do parents matter in shaping who you become?Does your personality change across the lifespan? Readings will cover theories of development at different life stages and empirical research from childhood to older adulthood. PREREQ: Psych 100B and Psych 353
Course Attributes: EN S; BU BA; AS SSC; FA SSC; AR SSC

Perception, Thought, and Action

PSYCHOLOGICAL & BRAIN SCIENCES 4182

This course focuses on current topics in visual perception, visual attention, and the control of action. Readings consist of recent journal articles. Class meetings emphasize presentation and discussion of the material in the readings. Limited to 15 students. PREREQ: Psych 100B/1000 and one of the following: Psych 301/3010, Psych 330/3300, Psych 3401, Psych 344/3440, Psych 360/3600, Psych 361/3610, Psych 3604, Psych 380/3800, Psych 433/4330, or Psych 4604.
Course Attributes: FA NSM; BU BA; AR NSM; AS NSM

Applied Statistical Analysis with R

PSYCHOLOGICAL & BRAIN SCIENCES 4175

This course is designed to introduce R as both a means of applied statistical analysis as well as a window into data organization and programming. The goal of the course is to teach the tools needed to take a raw dataset and not only perform a statistical test in R, but alsoto learn how to arrange the data set to perform a variety of tests, to choose the appropriate test, and to visualize the results. Students will gain practical knowledge of how to use statistics in research. Please note that this is an introductory course and knowledge of R prior to enrollment is not expected.PREREQ: Psych 300/3000; OR graduate standing by permission.
Course Attributes: FA NSM; AR NSM; AS NSM

Psychological Dynamics of Empathy

PSYCHOLOGICAL & BRAIN SCIENCES 396

In this course, we will explore the antecedents and consequences of empathic motivation, defined broadly. Along the way, we consider answers to several interesting questions: Why are some people generally more empathic than others? Are there cultural differences in levels of this trait? To what extent is empathy an "emotional" or "cognitive" phenomenon? We will also consider the conditions under which empathy is associated with prosocial outcomes (e.g., reducing racial prejudice) but with recognition that empathy has a "darker" side, one that can ironically exacerbate people's preexisting biases. The approach to empathy will be highly interdisciplinary as we consider research and theory within several fields within psychology (e.g., social, personality, cognitive) as well as areas that draw from other scholarly disciplines (e.g. social neuroscience, social anthropology). Prerequisite: Psych 100B.
Course Attributes: EN S; BU BA; AS SSC; FA SSC; AR SSC

The Mental Health Crisis in Higher Education

PSYCHOLOGICAL & BRAIN SCIENCES 3885

In the last decade, college campuses have seen unprecedented increases in the proportion of students suffering from mental health problems. Many institutions have responded by increasing the number of mental health counselors available in student health centers, making the accommodations at disability resource centers more robust, and providing safe spaces for students to process incidents and events that have triggered them. Are such interventions improving the well-being of today's students or might they actually be further encumbering students' psychological health? This discussion-based course will explore arguments made on all sides of this provocative debate and examine research on the nature of today's college students and what resources and services most contribute to their psychological health and well-being. Enrollment is limited to 15 students. PREREQ: Psych 100B and at least 6 units of advanced home-based psychology courses.
Course Attributes: EN S; BU BA; AS SSC; FA SSC; AR SSC

Human Learning and Memory

PSYCHOLOGICAL & BRAIN SCIENCES 380

A survey of issues related to the encoding, storage and retrieval of information in humans. Topics include memory improvement strategies, people with extraordinary memories, memory illusions and distortions, among other topics. Limited to 30 students. Prerequisite: Psych 100B/1000.
Course Attributes: FA NSM; BU BA; AR NSM; AS NSM

Psychology of Learning

PSYCHOLOGICAL & BRAIN SCIENCES 361

The experimental analysis of behavior is presented with examination of Operant and Pavlovian conditioning, aversive control, theories of reinforcement, choice behavior, behavioral economics, etc. Theoretical and experimental approaches to the study of behavior as developed in the laboratory are emphasized. Consideration is given to applications from the laboratory to everyday behavior. PREREQ: Psych 100B. Enrollment limited to 30.
Course Attributes: FA NSM; BU SCI; AR NSM; AS NSM

Cognitive Neuroscience

PSYCHOLOGICAL & BRAIN SCIENCES 3604

A general introduction to the underlying principles and mechanisms of brain function that give rise to complex human cognitive behavior. Emphasis will be placed on how emerging methods and approaches from both neuroscience and cognitive psychology have been integrated to yield new insights into the organization and structure of higher mental processes. Topics include perception, attention, memory, language, and executive control. Prerequisite: Psych 100B/1000.
Course Attributes: FA NSM; BU SCI; AR NSM; AS NSM

Cognitive Psychology

PSYCHOLOGICAL & BRAIN SCIENCES 360

Introduction to the study of thought processing from an information-processing approach. Emphasis will be placed on theoretical models that are grounded in empirical support. Topics include pattern recognition, attention, memory, reasoning, language processes, decision making, and problem solving. PREREQ: Psych 100B.
Course Attributes: FA NSM; BU BA; AR NSM; AS NSM