Psychophysics Zhuanghua Shi Dragan Rangelov Course lecturers and

Psychophysics Zhuanghua Shi Dragan Rangelov

Course lecturers and tutors

Perception White and Gold Black and Blue and Brown Switching 9% 9% 28% 53%

Reality ≠ Perception = f( ) 4

Psychophysics = f( ) • behavior: RT, accuracy • stimulus inputs Behavior = f(stimulus inputs)

Why a course on psychophysical methods ?

Why a course on psychophysical methods Experience • Introspection • Observation Cognitive architecture Neural mechanisms • RT/errors • Thresholds • … • • f. MRI EEG TMS …

Why a course on psychophysical methods • Complexity of neuro-cognitive phenomena requires their analysis on different levels • Levels are characterized by different methodological and research approaches • Analysis of behavioral measures helps interpretation of neuroimaging results

Describing and opening the black box • Psychophysics Stimulus • Cognitive neuroscience Stimulus Imaging f(S, O) Behavior • Describing what functions the cognitive system performs Behavior • Describing how and where are these functions implemented

Tilt illusion • Erroneous perception of the tilt of the inner grating as a function of contextual stimulation

Psychophysics of the tilt illusion Schwartz et al. , 2007, Nat. Rev. Neur

Neuroscience of the tilt illusion • Electrophysiological measure • responses of populations of neurons to local orientation stimuli Repulsive tuning shifts in primary visual cortex neurons for space and time, for context target differences of 15°

Bringing together behavior and neurons • From recordings of neurons (left) behavior can reliably be predicted (right-hand side)

Aims of the course • Overview of “classical” psychophysical methods • with reference to their applications in current neuro-cognitive psychology research. • Demonstrate purely “psychological” tools for investigating internal states and processes • Hands-on experience.

Schedule Strongway, Dragan Lecture, Mon, 14 – 16: 00, Leo 1208 19. 10. 15 Intro + SDT I 20. 15 Efsun, Leo Tutorial G 1, Tue, 14 – 16: 00, Leo 1202 Article distribution Introduction/Tutor presentations/Student assignments Student Presentations Markus Tutorial G 2, Wed, 14 – 16: 00, Leo 1206 21. 10. 15 Article distribution 28. 10. 15 TUE: Seminar with Efsun/Leo (Tutor Presentations) 04. 11. 15 Introduction 11. 15 Experiment Design 18. 11. 15 Methods & Lab Tour 26. 10. 15 Adpative Methods 1 27. 10. 15 02. 11. 15 Adaptative Methods 2 03. 11. 15 09. 11. 15 RT I 10. 11. 15 16. 11. 15 RT II 17. 11. 15 23. 11. 15 RT III 24. 11. 15 Data collection/office hours 25. 11. 15 Data Collection 30. 11. 15 RT IV 01. 12. 15 Data collection/office hours 02. 15 Data Collection 07. 12. 15 08. 12. 15 Data Analysis (SPSS + R) 09. 12. 15 Analysis I 14. 12. 15 EXAM 15. 12. 15 Data interpretation + Discussion 16. 12. 15 Analysis II & Discussion 21. 12. 15 22. 15 11. 01. 16 12. 01. 16 20. 01. 16 Experiment instruction Week / Lab tour (2 groups) Designing the experiment No regular class: Slot reserved for preparation of conference presentation Final Discussion, Presentation practice, & Report writing NCP conference + Tijuana (all)

Practical work • Teaser papers available tomorrow • Two groups: 1. Looking • Visual search and memory learning 2. Touching • Tactile contextual learning • Main goal – practical application of the methods covered in the lectures

Structure of the course • Requirements for course credit points (5 CP) • Active participation in lectures and tutorials • Presentation of the projects’ results • Exam • Written report

Criteria for the evaluation of the students’ presentation • • • Theoretical importance of the research Research question Paradigm and data collection Appropriateness of data analyses Well illustrated by examples and figures Timing of the talk: • 20 minutes • good allocation of time for different parts

Criteria for written report • 6 – 8. 000 words long • Structure • • • Abstract Introduction Methods/Results Discussion References – consistently formatted (APA) • Written report will be graded by several reviewers

Course materials • Lecture slides • http: //www. psy. lmu. de/exp/people/ma/rangelov /teaching • Research projects related materials provided by the tutors

QUESTIONS?