270119 Cognitive Neuroscience of Attention and Working Memory (S) (WiSe 2014/2015)

Attention and working memory are basic cognitive functions of human and non-human primate brains. During the last 10 years, the issue of how these two functions might be related became a highly active research area in cognitive neuroscience. The seminar will attempt to review and discuss current theoretial ideas and experimental evidence on this issue. The seminar language will be English – basic (not advanced) skills in reading, writing, presentating, and discussing are presupposed. Original research papers (reviews, theories, experimental studies, ...see below) will be read, presented, and discussed. Suggestions for alternative viewpoints and experimental tests are very welcome. Each participant should be moderate one seminar session including a presentation (powerpoint, etc.) and a discussion section.

Requirements for participation, required level

This seminar will be mainly offered to MSc students of Psychology that have selected courses in cognitive neuroscience (e.g., modules X and Y) during their BSc studies. Knowledge about the basics of action control, perception, memory, and about experimental methods is presupposed (see, e.g., Gazzaniga, M. et al., 2008, Cognitive neuroscience: The biology of the mind. Norton).

Bibliography

- Olivers, C. N., Peters, J., Houtkamp, R., & Roelfsema, P. R. (2011). Different states in visual working memory: When it guides attention and when it does not. Trends in cognitive sciences, 15(7), 327-334.
- Schneider, W.X. (2013). Selective visual processing across competition episodes: a theory of task-driven visual attention and working memory. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London Series B: Biological Sciences, 368 (1628), 1-13.