1: Introduction to Cognitive Science

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1 Introduction to Cognitive Science

• Steve Croker
• Room N205a
• Ext. 3047
• s.croker_at_derby.ac.uk
• http//psychology.derby.ac.uk/steve/cogsci/

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The Story Of A Brain.

• Once upon a time, a kind young man who enjoyed
  many friends and great wealth learned that a
  horrible rot was overtaking all his body but his
  nervous system.
• He loved life He loved having experiences.
  Therefore he was intensely interested when
  scientist friends of amazing abilities proposed
  the following

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The Story Of A Brain.

• The scientists put his brain in a nutrient bath,
  hooked up to a machine capable of inducing any
  pattern of neural firings, so that he could
  continue to enjoy any sort of experiences.

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The Story Of A Brain.

• The brain was accidentally split into its 2
  hemispheres.
• The scientists proposed a system of wires
  connecting the neurons of one half to the neurons
  in the other half the two hemispheres could each
  have their own nutrient bath.

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The Story Of A Brain.

• One scientist proposed that communication between
  the 2 halves take place via radio waves, instead
  
• each half would be fitted with a transmitter and
  receiver and an impulse cartridge which would
  administer the incoming and outgoing signals
  appropriately.

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The Story Of A Brain.

• It was suggested that the impulse cartridge was
  attached to an impulse programmer, which would
  feed each half of the brain the impulses it would
  have received, had it been connected to the other
  half.

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The Story Of A Brain.

• If the brain could function and have experiences
  in 2 halves, why not 4 pieces of brain, each in
  its own nutrient bath
• 10 centuries later
• Each neuron now had its own nutrient bath. One
  person looked after each.

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The Story Of A Brain.

• One neuron was showing some signs of wear and
  tear, so Spoilar (the man responsible for it)
  swapped it for a fresh one.
• Another neuron was accidentally damaged. Spoilar
  offered to lend his neuron to the man whose
  neuron was damaged it could send and receive
  impulses for 2 neurons!

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Aims of Course and Learning Outcomes

• On completion of the module the students will be
  able to
• demonstrate an understanding of, and critically
  evaluate, key issues, concepts and theories in
  cognitive science.

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Reading Resources

• Core text
• Clark, A. (2001), Mindware. Oxford OUP.
• Study Pack
• https//ulib.derby.ac.uk/ecdu/ECDUphp/oracleecduma
  ster.php?mcode6PS022
• Use more than reading lists
• Web of Knowledge
• Browse through past and current journals
• On-line journals
• Web

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Assessment

• Method of Assessment
• an essay of approximately 3,000 words, based on a
  topic from the course syllabus, demonstrating
  learning outcome 1 (100)
• Essay Your essay should be approximately 3000
  words.
• Deadline Friday 8th May 5pm
• This needs to be handed in using turnitin
• http//www.submit.ac.uk
• Essay titles see web pages

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Turnitin plagiarism detection

• www.submit.ac.uk
• Select sign up
• Module ID 16929
• Password cognition
• Use your full name email address
• Set up your own password
• Join modules (classes)
• Submit work
• Wait
• Save report
• More details in programme handbook
• http//psychology.derby.ac.uk/steve/resources/tur
  nitin.html

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What is cognitive science?

• the science of the mind
• a science of the mind, of intelligence, of
  thought, a science concerned with knowledge and
  its uses
• Perception
• Memory
• Learning
• Machine cognition
• Simulation of human cognition

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Who are cognitive scientists?
ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE
PSYCHOLOGY
PHILOSOPHY
COGNITIVE SCIENCE
LINGUISTICS
NEUROSCIENCE
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What do these disciplines add?

• Language
• Intelligent behaviour associated with language
• Neuroscience
• Brain
• Nervous system
• Philosophy
• Can computers think?
• Mind-body problem

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3 levels of description
autistic disorders
Behavioural level
cognitive disorder
Cognitive level
genetic disorder
Biological level
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History

• Dualism
• René Descartes (1596-1650)
• Conscious minds exist on a separate, non-physical
  level
• Idealism
• Bishop Berkeley (1685-1753)
• No material world just world of mental events
• esse est percipi
• Physical things have no separate reality apart
  from our sensory awareness of them
• Cannot refute this argument

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History

• 20th C. - Rejection of idealism
• Behaviourism
• Watson (1878-1958)
• Skinner (1904-1990)
• Scientific psychology cannot be based on
  introspection
• Experimental study of behaviour
• Philosophy logical behaviourism
• Gilbert Ryle (1900-1976)
• the ghost in the machine

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History

• Rejection of behaviourism
• Digital computers
• Mind brain relationship
• Mind as software
• Brain as hardware
• Functionalism
• Internal mental states
• ..which have typical causes and effects
• but are not directly observable

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History

• 1950s problem-solving (Newell Simon)
• 1960s/70s computational models
• Planning
• Attention
• Reading
• Reasoning
• Consciousness

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Artificial Intelligence
Machines that can think
Computer science Psychology Physiology Philosophy

• Need to define intelligence
• Problem-solving
• Generalising
• Perception

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Turing machine

• Imaginary machine
• Simple processor
• Infinite tape (data store)
• Read/write head
• Also needs a program

Symbol just read 1 Current State A
A
1
1

1
1
1







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Turing machine simple program

• 5 elements

current state
current symbol
new state
move
new symbol
1R
1
1
A
A
move right
A
A
1
1

1
1
1







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Turing machine addition program
current state
current symbol
new state
move
new symbol
1R
1
1
A
A
Skip first number
1R
1

A
A
Change middle
1L


B
A
Reached end
halt

1
B
B
Delete last
A
1
1

1
1
1







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Turing test

• Human interrogator tries to discern whether they
  are talking to a human or a machine.
• If a machine can fool a human, then it should be
  counted as intelligent
• Verbal behaviour test for intelligence

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Issues and themes

• Mind as a machine
• Can computers think?
• Can we create an artificial mind?
• Are people machines?
• Mind-body problem
• How is the mind related to the brain?

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Learning outcomes for lecture 1

• Make sure you know the assessment details and
  learning outcomes for the course.
• Understand what cognitive science is and why we
  study it.
• Be aware of the main issues in cognitive science.
• Understand what a Turing machine is and how it
  works.
• Understand what the Turing test is.

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Reading

• Mindware Chapter 1
• Zuboff, A. (1981). The story of a brain. In D. R.
  Hostadter D. C. Dennett (Eds.), The minds I.
  London Penguin.
• Turing, A. M. (1950). Computing machinery and
  intelligence. Mind, 59, 236 http//www.abelard.or
  g/turpap/turpap.htm
• Also reprinted in
• Bodens Philosophy of Articial Intelligence
• Haugelands Mind Design II
• Hostadter Denetts The Minds I
• ELIZA http//www-ai.ijs.si/eliza/
• FOR NEXT WEEK, READ
• A Coffeehouse Conversation on the Turing Test
  from Hofstadter, D. R. (1985). Metamagical
  themas. London Penguin. (on digital resources
  webpage)