Psychology

This course discusses sensory and cognitive processes. The course consists of an introductory methodological part which covers the main psychophysical methods for the measurement of the absolute and differential threshold and psychometric function, psychophysical laws, and the SDT. The second part of the course examines the way of action of the main mechanisms and visual processes including static spatial vision and central and peripheral dynamic, grouping and segmentation, recognition of faces and objects, visual research, visual attention, eye movements and reading, and learning and memory. This course requires students to have taken previous courses on the anatomy and physiology of sensory systems, and statistics as a prerequisite for the course.

This course provides fundamental knowledge of the issues, insights and methods of psycholinguistics. It also trains basic methods for data collection, data processing, statistical analysis, academic argumentation and presentation. The course includes various cognitive models which form a bridge between language as a communicative phenomenon and language as part of human biology. The course provides insight into and experience of using basic tools connected to the planning, implementation, and statistical analysis of a scientific experiment. The course also provides insight into some of the psychological and neurobiological processes which are the foundation of language. Students also acquire skills in quantitative research which can be used in independent work. The course is closely linked to analytical courses in phonetics/phonology, grammar, semantics and pragmatics, and to courses in conversation analysis, language development, and sociolinguistics.

This course gives a broad overview of biological foundations of behavior. The role of certain brain areas, neurotransmitters, and hormones on brain function are discussed. The course consists of nine topics; the first is an introductory topic regarding the link between brain and behavior. The following topics involve several types of specific behaviors ant their links to the brain anatomy. The topics are: gender development, emotion, memory, sleep, mental illnesses, addiction, hunger and thirst, and language. 

This class expands on the sociological and social psychology studies of emotion and thought at an international level. It discusses linguistic expression, differences in forms of communication, ethic compromising, critical thinking, and general analysis of the principal concepts of society.

This course presents language development obstacles for infants and preschool children. The class introduces main phonetics, semantics, grammar, and usage as developmental processes for children and some common disorders for language processing. The course also covers language assessment of young children and introduces ways of reclamation, and the importance of early intervention for language disorders. Texts: Reed, V. A. (2012) An Introduction to Children with Language Disorders; Bernstein, D. K. , Tiegerman-Farber, E. (2009) Language and Communication Disorders in Children. Assessment: oral report (5%), assignments (8%), participation (13%), midterm exam (28%), final exam (28%), report (18%).

Full course description

Cognitive neuroscience is an entirely new research field that originally emerged from a combination of traditional sciences such as philosophy, psychology, medicine and biology that all investigate the principles of perception, behaviour and cognition from different perspectives.

As technical developments of different methods and tools in the field of cognitive neuroscience came forth, and as theoretical application of different mathematical and computer science-based models were used to explain neuronal functioning, additional disciplines, such as physics, mathematics, bioengineering and computer science materialized as an important part of this research field.

Subsequently, an effective research project in cognitive neuroscience requires an interdisciplinary cooperation, in which each scientific discipline contributes its respective genuine theories, models, techniques and tools for the mutual investigation of the neuronal principles of perception, attention, and cognition.

But can we really watch the brain at work? Are there ways to identify where exactly, and when exactly activation in the brain is necessary to perform a specific mental process? This course will help to give some answers on the basic principles of brain research and it will show relevant applications of these techniques in different areas of cognitive psychology.

Course objectives

• To give an introduction into the new field of cognitive neuroscience.
• To learn which methods a brain researcher can use to investigate the neuronal bases of different mental processes.

Prerequisites

SCI2034 Brain and Action and elementary knowledge of electricity and magnetism as stated under SCI-P(p. vi-viii). 

Recommended 
SCI1009 Introduction to Biology or SCI2038 Physics (or SCI1030 Physics I) or SSC1005 Introduction to Psychology or SSC2025 Memory. 

The six-week summer lab research program at National Taiwan University places students in various science, engineering and social science research labs and/or projects under the supervision of faculty. Students spend approximately 30 hours per week in lab activities.