Higher Cognitive Functions

Course manual 2024/2025

Course content

Within the cognitive sciences, there is often talk of higher and lower cognitive functions. As a heuristic, this categorization can serve a purpose: studies into reasoning, language use, creativity, musicality or deliberation are in many ways different from studies into perception or reaction time. Yet at the same time, it is not always clear how to demarcate 'high cognition' and 'low cognition', with different fields and methodologies bringing about different perspectives on what these terms mean to begin with.

The course Higher Cognitive Functions aims to showcase studies into some faculties that have classically been considered to be of a high level, such as language use, decision-making, and theory of mind. Students will learn how current insights on these topics have historically been constructed, what light they shed on the functioning of our minds, which debates are still ongoing and how theories of cognition are moving forward.

Study materials

Literature

• selected papers

Objectives

• Place current research in cognitive science in its historic context
• Understand important outstanding issues in cognitive science
• Critically discuss developments in the field with experts
• Integrate ideas from distinct subfields in cognitive science
• Identify ethical aspects of and best practices for research in cognitive science

Teaching methods

• Lecture
• Seminar
• Self-study
• Presentation/symposium
• Working independently on e.g. a project or thesis

Interactive lectures on current research will illustrate knowledge construction in the cognitive sciences.

Students will prepare interviews with experts to critically evaluate research and report on interviews/lectures.

Students will develop a research proposal to address key debates empirically, drawing on findings from multiple lines of research.

Learning activities

Attendance

Requirements of the programme concerning attendance (OER-B):

1. In the case of practicals, the student must attend at least 80%. Should the student attend less than 80%, he/she must redo the practical, or the Examinations Board may have one or more supplementary assignments issued.
2. In the case of study-group sessions with assignments, the student must attend at least 80% of the study-group sessions. Should the student attend less than 80%, he/she must redo the study group, or the Examinations Board may have one or more supplementary assignments issued.

Additional requirements for this course:

Students should attend at least all but one interview sessions and write a weekly report on each session (except when they are hosting it). The effect of missing a session on the grade is that no credits are given for that session. Interview attendance counts for in total 25%; this percentage can be obtained by attending  (and writing a report for) all sessions but one.

The final essay  cannot be revised if the total grade is sufficient, but a new essay (on another topic) can be written.In case the total grade is not sufficient, it is also possible to revise the final essay based on the feedback. The new grade will be used to calculate a new overall grade, but this grade cannot exceed 7.0 (so, if the recalculated grade is below 7.0, it is the new grade; else the new grade is 7.0).

Assessment

Assignments

Interview hosting

• Students will be tasked to interview a visiting speaker, in groups

Weekly assignment

• Every week, students will individually respond to 4 questions about the module's topics.

Final essay: literature comparison

• Students will write an essay comparing and integrating the viewpoints of two disciplines (from two different lecturers) on one topic.

Essay topic pitch

• Students (individually) give a short presentation on the topic of their final essay. This assignment will not be graded.

Fraud and plagiarism

The 'Regulations governing fraud and plagiarism for UvA students' applies to this course. This will be monitored carefully. Upon suspicion of fraud or plagiarism the Examinations Board of the programme will be informed. For the 'Regulations governing fraud and plagiarism for UvA students' see: www.student.uva.nl

Additional information

Specific course materials will be available to participants via Canvas.

Contact information

Coordinator

• dr. S. Pezzelle