Cognitive Science Department Rensselaers Cog Sci Department emphasizes

Cognitive Science Department • Rensselaer’s Cog. Sci Department emphasizes four areas: – – Perception & Action Machine & Human Reasoning Computational Cognitive Modeling Cognitive Engineering • These four areas define a 3 -dimensional space

The first dimension is defined by the continuum from perception and action to reasoning Perception & Action Human & Machine Reasoning

• The second dimension is the range from basic research to. Cognitive cognitive engineering Engineering Human & Machine Reasoning Perception & Action Basic Research

Cognitive Engineering Most Cognitive Science programs emphasize only basic research. We are unique in that we place an equal emphasis on applied, or engineering, applications of our work. Human & Machine Reasoning Perception & Action Basic Research

Cognitive Engineering Human & Machine Reasoning Perception & Action Basic Research

• The third dimension is the form in which cognitive science theories are cast. These typically range from verbal theories to quantitative ones that are based in Cognitive Engineering logic, mathematics, Bayesian statistics, connectionist models, or symbolic models. Collectively, this area of quantitative approaches to cognitive science theory is referred to as Cognitive Modeling. Human & Machine Reasoning Perception & Action Basic Research

Cognitive Engineering Cognitive Modeling Human & Machine Reasoning Perception & Action Verbal Theories (I. e. , handwaving!) Basic Research

Cognitive Engineering Cognitive Modeling Quantitative approaches to theory are important to the growth Human & Perception & Machine of Cognitive Science. In recognition of this fact, each year a Action $100, 000 check, the Rumelhart prize, is awarded to an Reasoning outstanding researcher who has made important quantitative contributions to Cognitive Science. We like to think that our faculty and graduates will someday be considered for this prize. Verbal Theories (I. e. , handwaving!) Basic Research

Summary • That is a brief overview of the four areas of Cog. Sci that the Rensselaer Cognitive Science Department will emphasize. • These are not four isolated areas, but rather are tightly interconnected. • There is a continuum, not dichotomy from perception/action to reasoning

Summary (2) • Research at any place along this continuum may be cast in terms of testing and developing quantitative, or cognitive, models. • Similarly, research into reasoning or perception that is cast in terms of cognitive models, may be either basic or applied.

Cog. Sci@RPI. EDU • For more information contact – Selmer Bringsjord, Professor and Chair of Cognitive Science brings@rpi. edu – Wayne D. Gray, Professor and Director of Doctoral Studies for Cognitive Science