Computational Models of Cognitive Processes
Lecturer:
Prof. Daniel R. Schlegel, 464 Shineman Center, daniel.schlegel@oswego.edu
Office/Lab hours: Generally 10:15-11:15 MWF, but send mail to set up an appointment or ask questions any time.
Section 800: MWF 12:40pm-1:35pm, Shineman 130
Course Description:
This course provides an introduction to the computational study of human and machine intelligence. We will discuss the methodology behind development of computational models and algorithms which exhibit intelligent behavior. Examples will be drawn from the areas of neural processing, vision, memory, learning, reasoning, and information processing.
Course Objectives:
Students who complete this course will be able to:
- Construct a heuristic problem solving program in a symbolic language.
- Analyze heuristics in a heuristic problem solver in terms of applicability and (theories of) human executability
- Design and implement a simple “natural language” interface to a question answering system based on elementary generative grammar theory.
- Define, describe, and discuss the deployment of classic knowledge representations in the service of cognitive processing.
- Compare and contrast approaches to problems of high-level perception.
Prerequisites:
The course has CSC241 as a prerequisite.
Textbooks:
None. Various readings will be posted on Blackboard when the time comes.
Useful Resources:
Attendance and Participation:
As per college policy, attendance in all sessions is obligatory. If you cannot attend a class meeting due to religious, athletic, health related circumstance, or circumstance of particular hardship, please notify me in advance via email. Please be ready to present proof, if necessary. It is expected that each person actively engage in each class session.
This course includes significant discussion and demonstration components. Participation will be factored into the final grade.
Classroom Etiquette:
A positive learning environment relies upon creating an atmosphere where all students feel welcome. Classroom discussion is meant to allow us to hear a variety of viewpoints. This can only happen if we respect each other and our differences. Hostility and disrespectful behavior is not acceptable.
It is expected that everyone will wear a mask and socially distance according to current university policies.
Grading Summary:
Grades will be comprised of participation, small assignments, a large project, and a final exam. A point-based system will be used, where each graded artifact will be assigned a point value and you can simply sum the points to determine your grade.
| Assessment | Points |
|---|---|
| Participation | 100 |
| Assignments | 300 |
| Final Project | 300 |
| Final Exam | 300 |
| Total | 1000 |
The default grading for the course will be along the university’s standard grading curve:
| Letter: Points | Letter: Points |
|---|---|
| A: 930-1000 | C+: 770-790 |
| A-: 900-920 | C: 730-760 |
| B+: 870-890 | C-: 700-720 |
| B: 830-860 | D+: 670-690 |
| B-: 800-820 | D: 600-660 |
| E: 0-590 |
Final Projects:
You will complete a final project in a small group of two or three students wherein you will explore a human cognitive process and develop a computational model for it. The project will be completed in several stages and will involve a paper presenting your research and findings. Further details about the project will be provided when the time is right.
Assignments:
Assignments will give you a chance to experiment with the techniques and technologies explored in class, as well as to reflect upon readings. You will post your solutions on a web site which you will maintain for this course. Creating the website will, itself, be one of the early assignments.
At some points during the semester the work from your site may be shown to the class by you or me.
Final Exam:
You may bring your notes to the final exam but may not use any electronic aides.
Each exam question will be assigned a point value, questionPoints, where the following general scheme will be used in grading it:
0 – Did not attempt / No serious attempt / Completely incorrect
1/3 * questionPoints – Mostly incorrect solution
2/3 * questionPoints – Somewhat incorrect solution
3/3 * questionPoints – Perfect solution
Intermediate scores will be given as appropriate. The total points received on all questions will then be summed.
Schedule/Outline:
The course will be divided into several units, during which we will talk about modeling techniques, reasoning, belief, Prolog and CSNePS, acting and planning, and other topics!
This syllabus and the course schedule are subject to change by the instructor. All changes and related justifications will be announced in class, and updates will be reflected in this web version.
| Week | Day | Date | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Monday | 8/23 | First day of class Syllabus / First Thoughts on Modeling Cognitive Processes For Wednesday... Read Thagard, Mind, Chapter 1 (on Blackboard), keep thinking about our maze solving problem |
| Wednesday | 8/25 | Mazes, Symbols, and Modeling For Friday...Read Newell & Simon's 1976 Turing Lecture: Completer Science as Empirical Inquiry: Symbols and Search (on Blackboard) Optional Reading: Wang, J.X. Tracking Eye Behavior in Decision-Making Maze Problems, 2019 |
|
| Friday | 8/27 | Prolog Introduction For Monday... Read Learn Prolog Now! Chapter 1 |
|
| 2 | Monday | 8/30 | Knowledge Representation Logic Problems Optional Reading: Shapiro, S.C. Knowledge Representation in Encyclopedia of Cognitive Science, 2003 |
| Wednesday | 9/1 | Add deadline | |
| Friday | 9/3 | Finishing our Prolog Logic Problem Prolog Challenge 1 due Monday 9/13 (on Blackboard) For next Friday: Learn Prolog Now chapters 2-4 |
|
| 3 | Monday | 9/6 | Labor Day - No Class |
| Wednesday | 9/8 | Rosh Hashanah - No Class | |
| Friday | 9/10 | Some Prolog List Building Blocks | |
| 4 | Monday | 9/13 | Some Prolog List Building Blocks, continued. |
| Wednesday | 9/15 | Back to Mazes! Keep Reading Learn Prolog Now... New Prolog challenge Friday! Drop deadline |
|
| Friday | 9/17 | A Maze Heuristic Implemented Prolog Challenge 2 due |
|
| 5 | Monday | 9/20 | Language and Prolog Optional Reading: Rapaort, W.J., Syntactic Semantics: Foundations of Computational Natural Language Understanding, 1994 Asano and Boeckx, Syntax in language and music: what is the right level of comparison?, 2015. |
| Wednesday | 9/22 | Playing with the Blocks World in Prolog | |
| Friday | 9/24 | No Class | |
| 6 | Monday | 9/27 | Discussion of Challenge 2 More Blocks World! Establishing your website due 10/4 |
| Wednesday | 9/29 | Blocks World: Reference identification | |
| Friday | 10/1 | Blocks World: Moving toward acting | |
| 7 | Monday | 10/4 | No Class Read about acting and SHRDLU! |
| Wednesday | 10/6 | Blocks world, concluded Prolog Challenge 3 due 10/18 on your website |
|
| Friday | 10/8 | Belief sets and belief revision Reading: Logic of Belief Revision, sections 1-3 |
|
| 8 | Monday | 10/11 | Do the activity sent by email! |
| Wednesday | 10/13 | Modeling belief and belief revision in a small world | |
| Friday | 10/15 | Fall Break - No Class | |
| 9 | Monday | 10/18 | Dan sick |
| Wednesday | 10/20 | Dan sick | |
| Friday | 10/22 | Discussing Prolog Challenge 3 A (Simple) Prolog Reasoner Discuss Project Reading: The mental models paper I sent by email if you haven't already! Withdraw Deadline |
|
| 10 | Monday | 10/25 | Mental Models For Wednesday: Have project parts 1-3 on your webpage + be ready to present them! |
| Wednesday | 10/27 | Project Parts 1-3 Discussion Student Work Sites |
|
| Friday | 10/29 | Abductive Reasoning | |
| 11 | Monday | 11/1 | CSNePS Introduction Reading: Visually Interacting with a KB |
| Wednesday | 11/3 | Project Parts 4-5 Discussion | |
| Friday | 11/5 | Work Day | |
| 12 | Monday | 11/8 | Last Project 4-5 team discussion Finish Focused Reasoning examples Work in groups (with whatever time remains) Friday we'll move on high-level perception / neural modeling |
| Wednesday | 11/10 | Project Parts 6-7 Discussion | |
| Friday | 11/12 | Finish parts 6-7 discussion Sensing and perception |
|
| 13 | Monday | 11/15 | In-class project work day |
| Wednesday | 11/17 | Dan Sick | |
| Friday | 11/19 | Project Parts 7-10 Discussion | |
| 14 | Monday | 11/22 | Project Parts 7-10 Discussion, concluded Details about final submission of the project Group assessments |
| Wednesday | 11/24 | Thanksgiving Recess - No Class | |
| Friday | 11/26 | Thanksgiving Recess - No Class | |
| 15 | Monday | 11/29 | Project Presentations |
| Wednesday | 12/1 | Project Presentations | |
| Friday | 12/3 | Project Presentations Final Paper Due Last day of class |
|
| Finals Week | TBA | TBA | Final Exam |
Mental Health:
Stress is a normal and important part of our human experience. However, there are times when your stress will exceed your coping skills and resources. The changes that we have experienced due to the COVID-19 pandemic have impacted us all in various ways and are expected to continue to do so for the foreseeable future. Your health and well-being are critical components in your ability to learn. If you find that you are struggling to engage and function, please reach out. Resources are available, including Counseling Services, oswego.edu/csc, which provides brief and confidential counseling support to enrolled students (covered by your student health fee.) After-hours crisis coverage is available by calling Counseling Services at 315.312.4416 and listening to the available options. The CrisisTextLine can be accessed by texting GOT5U to 741741. Lastly, the Oz Concern Navigator, oswego.concerncenter.com, is now available to point you to additional resources to help you address your concerns.
Academic Integrity:
SUNY Oswego is committed to Intellectual Integrity. Any form of intellectual dishonesty is a serious concern and therefore prohibited. You can find the full policy online. While it is acceptable to discuss general approaches with your fellow students, the work you turn in must be your own. You may not turn in code or text found on the internet. If you have any problems doing the assignments, consult the instructor. See my page on plagiarism for an explanation of what I consider cheating.
Accessibility:
If you have a disabling condition which may interfere with your ability to successfully complete this course, please contact Accessibility Resources located at 155 Marano Campus Center, phone 315.312.3358, access@oswego.edu
Clery Act/Title IX Reporting:
SUNY Oswego is committed to enhancing the safety and security of the campus for all its members. In support of this, faculty may be required to report their knowledge of certain crimes or harassment. Reportable incidents include harassment on the basis of sex or gender prohibited by Title IX and crimes covered by the Clery Act. For more information about Title IX protections, go to https://www.oswego.edu/title-