COG100H1

Introduction to Cognitive Science

This course introduces the central questions, theories, and research methods of cognitive science—the interdisciplinary study of how minds work in humans, animals, and machines. Drawing on philosophy, psychology, linguistics, neuroscience, and computer science, the course examines perception, memory, reasoning, and language as components of cognition. Topics include the historical development of cognitive science, the mind-body problem, computational and neural network models, cognitive development and learning, linguistic universals and variation, and the nature of consciousness. Students gain an integrated understanding of how different disciplines contribute to the scientific study of thought and intelligent behavior.