Course Description

3 units; 3 Lect.

This course aims at inspiring students to consider the question of how human being can dominate the earth from the perspective of cognitive psychology. Throughout the evolutionary history, our ancestors developed a repertoire of cognitive skills that are fundamental to human civilization. In some cases, we are different from other animals quantitatively (e.g., capacity of memory). In other cases, the ability concerned may be unique to us (e.g., communication with language). It is indeed difficult to imagine a life without these cognitive abilities. In lectures, students will be introduced with the basic concepts and findings about various cognitive abilities including cognition, sensation, perception, memory system, decision-making, and language-processing. In tutorials, they will receive trainings in conducting research in cognitive psychology.