Cognition: Acquiring and processing info about the world in order to make behavioral decisions.

• Perception, Attention, Short/Long term memory, Language, Problem solving, Decision making.
• Learn about complex processes under ordinary every-day activities.
• No established facts, but theories supported with experiments.

1.2 Why Study Cognition?

Experimental Psychology and Neuroscience

Basic Research: Research for curiosity, has no end goal.

• Many inventions originate form basic research.

Applied Research: Research with the end goal of solving a problem.

(E.g. Research on pathology of cognitive function due to disorders)

Human Factors: Research in perception for interactive systems.

1.3 The State of the Field

Cognitive Psych: Studying intelligent human behavior using experiments to understand the mind.

• Some fields are not connected with others.

Neuroscience: Study of the brain.

• Devices that measure regional brain activity

Artificial Intelligence: Simulating brain processes using computers.

• "What I cannot create I do not understand"— Richard Feynman
• Good for assessing the overall knowledge of the field of cognition.
• Difficult tasks: Recognize objects, language, making plans.