Introduction to Neural Network Models in Cognitive Science (Psyc 3032/4254)
TTh 3:00 - 4:50, Fall 1999
Frontier Hall 354 and RIAS Room, University of Denver
Syllabus v2.0
Yuko Munakata
munakata@kore.psy.du.edu
Frontier Hall 343, 871-4151
Goals: How does the brain think? This course will introduce you to the ideas and methods in computational cognitive neuroscience that have been applied to answering this question. Specifically, we focus on simulating cognitive and perceptual processes using neural network models, which provide a bridge between behavioral and biological levels of analysis. A core set of computational principles based on well-established properties of neural processing in the cortex will be introduced and used throughout the course to account for a wide range of cognitive phenomena. This focused and unified approach makes potentially difficult material easier to learn, and allows us to explore more complex and interesting phenomena. We start by understanding the basic computational and biological properties of individual neurons and networks of neurons, which give rise to basic processing mechanisms like spreading activation, inhibition, and multiple constraint satisfaction. We then discuss learning mechanisms (Hebbian and error-driven), which all networks of neurons require to perform any reasonably complex task. We then examine a range of cognitive phenomena within this framework, including attention, memory, language, and higher-level cognition.
Requirements: The course is geared toward students with a strong background in psychology and/or biology. The course prerequisites are Introduction to Cognitive Neuroscience (Psyc 3031) and permission of the instructor. The models used in the course are mathematically based, but only algebra and some simple calculus-level concepts are required. The focus will be on intuitive and practical applications, not on theoretical derivations. Computer programming experience is not required, because the models are accessible via a graphical interface.
Text: O'Reilly, R. C., and Munakata, Y. (in press). Cognitive Neuroscience: A Computational Exploration. MIT Press, Cambridge, MA. The text is available for photocopying in Frontier Hall 130 (near the department fax machine).
Evaluation
Your grade will consist of the following:
The simulation exercises are in the text. You are strongly encouraged to do these on your own. Aim for clarity and conciseness in writing up your answers; a sentence or two should suffice to answer most questions. Exercises are to be turned in at the beginning of class on the due date (shown in the schedule below). Exercises turned in late will be penalized 5% for each day after the due date, starting immediately after class has started (i.e., if you turn it in at the end of class on the day it's due, it is already 5% off).
Productive participation in class discussion is encouraged to help you get the most out of this course. Please also feel free to actively evaluate and provide feedback on the text (its content, clarity, etc.). You can communicate about any of this as a group by emailing pdp99@kore.psy.du.edu.
Class Schedule
In general, we will meet for the first part of each class in Frontier Hall 354 for lecture/discussion, and for the second part in the RIAS room for hands-on simulation.
To Run Simulations on kore.psy.du.edu
1. from RIAS Room PC's
On PC:
On kore:
disp<computer number>
fvwm&
xterm&
cd sims/chapter_x
leabra++ <prj name>.proj.gz
2. from XTerminals
On Xterm:
xhost + kore.psy.du.edu
telnet kore.psy.du.edu
On kore:
setenv DISPLAY <xterminal name>:0
cd sims/chapter_x
leabra++ <prj name>.proj.gz
3. from other DU PC's (NOT RECOMMEDED)
On PC:
First install X-server software, either Exceed or MI/X. The latter is
available from http://www.microimages.com/freestuf/mix/; if you
go with MI/X, also get these two fonts from that site:
helvR10.pcf and helvR14.pcf.
Then, either follow the instructions for the RIAS ROOM PC's (if you've installed Exceed), or, if you've installed MI/X:
MI/X
TWM
telnet kore.psy.du.edu
With either Exceed or MI/X, then:
winipcfg.exe to find IP address
On kore:
setenv DISPLAY <IP address>:0
xterm&
MI/X
cd sims/chapter_x
leabra++ <prj name>.proj.gz
Handy UNIX commands
ls (list contents of current directory)
cd directory-name (change directory to directory-name)
cd .. (change directory to directory above current directory)
Tab completion
^d (to logout or to show completions)
^p (previous command)
^n (next command)