Cognitive Processes I

• • 1. Introduction and research methods in cognition
  • 2. Attention
  • 3. Working memory
  • 4. Visual attention
  • 5. Episodic memory
  • 6. Semantic memory
  • 7. Concepts and categorise
  • 9. Word recognition and reading
  • 10. Language production
  • 11. Thinking and reasoning
  • 12. Cognitive neuropsychology

Equivalent subjects

You cannot enrol in this subject if you have successfully completed any of the following subject(s) because they are considered academically equivalent:

• MAQ-PSYX246-Cognitive Processes I

You must have successfully completed the following subject(s) before starting this subject:

MAQ-PSYX104-Introduction to Psychology I, or MAQ-PSYX1104-Introduction to Psychology I and MAQ-PSYX105-Introduction to Psychology II, or MAQ-PSYX1105-Introduction to Psychology II ;

Special requirements

• OtherDetails -

  Students who have an Academic Standing of Suspension or Exclusion under Macquarie University's Academic Progression Policy are not permitted to enrol in OUA units offered by Macquarie University. Students with an Academic Standing of Suspension or Exclusion who have enrolled in units through OUA will be withdrawn.

This unit introduces major topics of cognition including mechanisms of visual and auditory attention, varieties of short and long term memory, language processes such as reading and written word recognition, and storage and retrieval of knowledge of concepts and reasoning. We cannot attend to everything that impinges on the senses so we select and attend only to part of the available input. Selected information must be encoded, used, stored and retrieved. Although the main focus of the unit is on normal adult cognition disorder, a major topic will be the cognitive science of religions. Cognitive processes are also examined and these include acquired dyslexias and various forms of memory impairments. Practical exercises will demonstrate phenomena and research findings from various areas of cognition.

• Analysis of a journal article (500 words) (15%)
• Mid-session test (M/C question online test) (20%)
• Research participation (throughout the semester) (5%)
• Invigilated examination (60%)