PSYC 473KKnowledge in the Human Brain

Catalog

Knowledge in the Human Brain The human brain stores all of our knowledge about the world, and this knowledge is known as "semantic memory". This course will dive into the cognitive neuroscience of semantic memory, exploring the theories, methods, and models of how semantic information is represented in the human brain. We will explore the contribution of sensorimotor features, how this information is integrated in semantic hubs, and how semantic control systems let us use this knowledge in useful and creative ways. The papers we will discuss reflect a range of methods used in the study of semantic memory, and include behavioral studies, clinical patient studies, eye-tracking, and neuroimaging, with a focus on functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). Prerequisites: PSYC 111 with a grade of C or higher, PSYC 243 with a grade of C or higher, and PSYC 344 with a grade of C- or higher. Students must earn a grade of C- or higher for the course to apply to the major. Course restricted to junior/senior psychology or integrative neuroscience majors. This course will fulfill the seminar requirement for Integrative Neuroscience.