2017-2018 / PSYC5885-1

Algorithmic and mathematical approaches of cognitive phenomena

Duration

30h Th

Number of credits

 Master in psychology (120 ECTS)3 crédits 

Lecturer

Daniel Defays, Jacques Sougné

Coordinator

Jacques Sougné

Language(s) of instruction

French language

Organisation and examination

Teaching in the second semester

Units courses prerequisite and corequisite

Prerequisite or corequisite units are presented within each program

Learning unit contents

A series of quantitative approaches used to represent psychological phenomena with a particular focus on neural networks will be presented. The main topics are: the history of algorithmic and mathematical  approaches, simulation of intelligent behavior,  modeling of intellectual plasticity with networks (Bayesian, semantic, slipnet), Neural networks, the challenges facing connectionist approaches and their correspondents in the organization of the mind, deep networks, representation of forms and their matching, artificial life. The different concepts will be presented with examples and applications on a computer.

Learning outcomes of the learning unit

The course must provide to the student a series of basic concepts used in the study of cognitive phenomena and give her useful elements for the formalization of a number of intellectual processes. Moreover, students will be able to program with matlab different algorithms and structures including deep networks composed of convolution, pooling and standard backprop layers.

Prerequisite knowledge and skills

Basic mathematical concepts (graph, function, basic operations on matrix) - General cognitive Psychology

Planned learning activities and teaching methods

The course takes different forms: lectures, programming exercises with matlab.

Mode of delivery (face-to-face ; distance-learning)

Face-to-face, using smartboard and recording of audio and presentation screens.

Recommended or required readings

Copies of slides, notes on specific topics and an optional reading list are provided.

Assessment methods and criteria

Participation in computer labs, presentation of a personal work and oral exam with prior written preparation on the subjects covered in the course.   Students will be judged on their ability to identify appropriate quantitative approaches to the study of the mind, to perceive their limits and to apply accurately and rigorously the methods presented in the course.

Work placement(s)

Organizational remarks

Contacts

D.Defays (ddefays@ulg.ac.be)
J.Sougné (jsougne@ulg.ac.be)