Date

Topics

Readings

Assignments

Tue 1/22

An introduction to the course:
the mind, brain, language and cognition; neurons and other cells

R1
Book Preface, Ch 1, 2, 3

0: How you think it works

Thu 1/24

The brain:
Basic structure and function of the brain as a biological entity and a computing device

Book Ch 4, 5, tutorial on neurons and neural firing

Tue 1/29

The brain 2:
Neural development, learning, and repair.

Book Ch 6, article on how performing actions is required for understanding

1: Brain facts

Thu 1/31

Introduction to connectionist modeling; alternative representations

Book Ch 3, 9

Tue 2/5

Findings in psychology and psycholinguistics

O1 , Mirror Neurons

Book Ch 7, article on Embodiment of Cognition

2: Neural Networks software exercises

Thu 2/7

Experimental Techniques : Imaging, TMS

An article on FMRI , An article on Diffusion Tensor Imaging

Tue 2/12

PDP and structured connectionist models; learning concepts;

Book Ch 9
Article on learning, LTP

Quiz

Thu 2/14

Backpropagation

Wikipedia article on backpropagation , detailed backpropagation tutorial

3: Backpropagation exercises / Backpropagation (coding)

Tue 2/19

The neurophysiology, psychophysics, anthropology, and linguistics of color

Book Ch 8, an NPR report on the study of color words in languages

Thu 2/21

Cognitive Linguistics: categories, prototypes, Image Schemas

R4 Ch 3-5, R5 Ch 3, Book Ch 11, 13

Tue 2/26

Cognitive Linguistics/ Connectionist models

Book Ch 3, 9

Thu 2/28

Semantic Frames and FrameNet

FrameNet , Book Ch 11

4: Prototypes /Frames

Tue 3/4

Regier's model for word learning

R6
Book Ch 10, 11, 12

Thu 3/6

Recruitment Learning/Review

Book Ch 11

5: Regier -model exercises

Tue 3/11

Midterm

Thu 3/13

Motor control, simulation, and executing schemas

R13, O2 , O3 , O4
Book Ch 11 , 13

Tue 3/18

Bailey's model for learning hand-motion verbs

Book Ch 14, O2 (revisited)

6: Bailey model exercises / Model merging (coding)

Thu 3/20

Reinforcement Learning: Biology

Reinforcement Learning: An Introduction (by Sutton and Barto, available online): Ch. 1.1 - 1.5 and 3.1 - 3.3

Tue 3/25

Spring Break

Thu 3/27

Spring Break

Tue 4/1

Reinforcement Learning II: Algorithms

Reinforcement Learning: An Introduction (by Sutton and Barto, available online): Ch. 3.6, 5.1, 6.1, 6.4, 6.5

Thu 4/3

Reinforcement learning III: Algorithms/Applications

Computational roles for dopamine in behavioural control by Montague, Hyman, and Cohen

Tue 4/8

Metaphor

R4 (Chapters 4 and 5), Book Ch 16, 17

7. Reinforcement Learning

Thu 4/10

Bayes Networks

bayes net tutorial 1 and 2
Book Ch 18, 19

Tue 4/15

KARMA: Narayanan model for metaphorical concepts. Understanding news stories.

O6 , Book Ch 20

Thu 4/17

Grammar 1

R3 Book Ch9, 11, O7 , Book Ch 21, 22

8: Narayanan model exercises

Tue 4/22

Grammar 2: Constructions

R2, Book Ch 23, 24

Thu 4/24

Models of Language Learning

Grammar Induction , Book Ch 22

9: Language learning exercises

Tue 4/29

Embodied Construction Grammar

O8 , O9 , Book Ch 23, 24

10: BBS Commnetary

Thu 5/1

Learning Embodied Constructions

Book Ch. 25

Tue 5/6

The "Binding Problem", plus Review for Final

O5 (revisited)
Book Ch 9 (revisted), The Binding Problem

Thu 5/8

Final Quiz