An Invitation to Cognitive Science, Volume 4: Methods, Models, and Conceptual Issues

Don Scarborough and Saul Sternberg, Editors; Daniel N. Osherson, Series Editor

Brief Description

The chapters of this volume span many areas of cognitive science -- including artificial intelligence, neural network and symbolic models, animal cognition, skill acquisition, signal detection theory, statistics, quantitative models, reaction-time methods, cognitive neuroscience, evolution of cognition, and consciousness. Rather than offer general surveys of areas, the contributors present "case studies" -- detailed accounts of one or two achievements within an area. Although the chapters presume little specialized background knowledge, they do present material with substantial depth. The goal of each chapter -- intended for graduate students and bright undergraduates -- is to tell a good story, challenging the student to embark on an intellectual adventure.

Table of Contents

1. Charles R. Gallistel
Symbolic processes in the brain: The case of insect navigation.

2. Seth R. Roberts
The mental representation of time: Uncovering a biological clock.

3. Richard C. Lewontin
The evolution of cognition: Questions we will never answer.

4. Owen Flanagan & Donald Dryden
Consciousness and the mind: Contributions from philosophy, neuroscience, and psychology.

5. Mark Steedman
Cognitive Algorithms: Questions of representation and computation in building a theory

6. Jill Fain Lehman, John Laird, and Paul Rosenbloom
A gentle introduction to Soar, an architecture for human cognition.

7. James Anderson
Learning arithmetic with a neural network: Seven times seven is about 50.

8. Dominic Massaro
Models for reading letters and words.

9. Saul Sternberg
Inferring mental operations from reaction-time data: How we compare objects.

10. Barbara Anne Dosher
Models of visual search: Finding a face in the crowd

11. Patricia G. Lindemann & Charles E. Wright
Skill acquisition and plans for actions: Learning to write with your other hand.

12. Thomas Wickens
Drawing conclusions from data: Statistical methods for coping with uncertainty.

13. John Swets
Separating discrimination and decision in detection, recognition, and matters of life and death.

14. Saul Sternberg
Discovering mental processing stages: The method of additive factors.

15. Allen Osman
Brainwaves and mental processes: Electrical evidence of attention, perception, and intention.

Cambridge, MA: MIT Press, 1998. Pp. i-xiv, 1-950.

Paperback: ISBN = 0-262-65046-0, Price $42

Hardcover: ISBN = 0-262-15045-x, Price $80.

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