PSYC 309

Cognitive Psychology

Fall 2007

last updated 8/26/07

 

Section 001: 10:30- 11:45pm Tuesday & Thursday

 

Location: Innovation Hall 131

 

Instructor:       Dr. Matt Peterson

 

Office:      2058 David King Hall

                 Ph: 993-4255

                 email:             (please put PYSC 309 in the subject header)

 

Office Hours:    11-11:50 Wednesdays (tentative) or by appointment.

I fully encourage you to contact me by email if you have any questions about the class.

 

Text: Sensation & Perception 7th Edition, E. Bruce Goldstein, Thomson-Wadsworth, ISBN-13: 9780534558109

 

Web Page: www.hfac.gmu.edu/mpeters2/Courses/PSY309/psy309.html

                        warning: url is case sensitive!

 

Prerequisites: Psych 300 (C- or better) or permission of instructor.
Students who fail to attend the initial meetings of both lecture and lab sections may be dropped from the course.

 

Technology Requirement Students are expected to be competent in word processing skills, Internet use, compiling of bibliographies, literature review searches, and downloading pictorial material from computers.

 

Course Description This course is an introduction to how the brain receives and processes information from the environment. Course deals with sensation -- information must be received in a manner in which our nervous system can respond to it. We will also discuss perception - how the brain interprets information and attaches meaning to it. The study of sensation and perception is one of the earliest areas of study in Psychology.  

 

Attendance Policy: I expect (barring unforeseen circumstances) to see you in class each week. Keep in mind that many of the topics discussed in class are not discussed (or at least not in as much detail) in your textbook. Although I do put some lecture notes on the web, they will not be complete and will not match the presentation given in class. If you miss a class, it is up to you to learn the missed information. NO CELL PHONES OR PAGERS.

 

GMU Honor Code: George Mason University has a code of Honor that each of you accepst by enrolling as a student. My expectation is that all of the work you do for me in this class will be the work of one individual. Plagiarism or any other violation of the honor code will be taken very seriously and reported to the Honor Committee. Having said that, I fully encourage you to discuss the readings and topics raised in this class with your fellow students.

 

Disabilities: If you are a student with a disability and you need academic accommodations, please see me and contact the Disability Resource Center (DRC) at 703-993-2474.  All academic accommodations must be arranged through that office."  

Exam Make-up Policy: You may take a test after (or before) the scheduled date only if you (a)  receive my permission before the day of the test, or (b) have a valid excuse (note from a doctor, judge, sergeant, etc.).  Papers will not be accepted beyond the due date.     

   

A+ 97+          
A 93-96   Grading Attendance
3
  
A- 90-92     Lab
33
  
B+ 87-89     Exams (4)
64
  
B 83-86    
100
 points total
B- 80-82    

 
C 70-79      
 
F 0-69          


Tests (64%): There will be 4 tests, consisting of multiple-choice, fill-in-the-blank, and/or short answers. Your exam with the lowest score will be dropped.

 

Lab (33%): The lab will account for 33% of your total grade in Psychology 309. Late assignments will receive partial credit.This course fulfills all/in part the Writing-Intensive requirement in the Psychology Department.


 Attendence: 3% of your grade will be based on attendence.

 

 

Calendar:

Note: The schedule below is tentative, and though I will try to follow it as closely as possible changes may occasionally be necessary.  In the event that an exam date is changed, you will be notified at least one week in advance.

 

Note that September 11th is the last day to add this class and September 28th is the last day to drop this class.

Date

Day

Chapter

Topic

28-Aug

Tues

1

Intro + Psychophysics

30-Aug

Thurs

Appendix, 2

Signal Detection, Physiology

4-Sep

Tues

2

Physiology

6-Sep

Thurs

3

Neurons

11-Sep

Tues

3

Neurons

13-Sep

Thurs

4

Organized Brain

18-Sep

Tues

 

TEST1

20-Sep

Thurs

4

Organized Brain

25-Sep

Tues

5

Perceiving Objects

27-Sep

Thurs

5

Perceiving Objects

2-Oct

Tues

6

Visual Attention

4-Oct

Thurs

6

Visual Attention

9-Oct

Tues


COLUMBUS DAY

11-Oct

Thurs

6

Visual Attention

16-Oct

Tues

 

Test 2

18-Oct

Thurs

7

Perceiving Color

23-Oct

Tues

7

Perceiving Color

25-Oct

Thurs

8

Perceiving Depth and Size

30-Oct

Tues

8

Perceiving Depth and Size

1-Nov

Thurs

9

Perceiving Movement

6-Nov

Tues

9

Perceiving Movement

8-Nov

Thurs

10

Action

13-Nov

Tues

 

Test 3

15-Nov

Thurs

11

Sound and Auditory System

20-Nov

Tues

11

Sound and Auditory System

22-Nov

Thurs


THANKSGIVING

27-Nov

Tues

12

Sound Localization

29-Nov

Thurs

12

Sound Localization

4-Dec

Tues

13

Speech Perception

6-Dec

Thurs

13

Speech Perception

13-Dec

Thurs

 

Test 4