Introduction to Cognitive Science

The Great Courses

by Thad A. Polk (Author/Narrator)

For millennia, philosophers and scientists have been trying to unlock the secrets of the mind with only limited success—until now. Today, with modern technologies including the best in neuroscience, medical imaging, and recent advances in artificial intelligence, we are making more progress than ever before.

In Introduction to Cognitive Science, Professor Thad A. Polk takes you on a fascinating tour of the latest discoveries in the relatively new field of cognitive science. The goal is nothing less than understanding every interaction working in the human brain to produce all forms of cognition. Computer scientists, engineers, linguists, physicians, psychologists, and more are all pursuing the mysteries of the most complex structure in the known universe, the elegant human brain.

But how do we learn about the mechanisms underlying human cognition? Unlike scientists studying other parts of the body, hands-on examination of the brain yields limited results. We can certainly learn about the brain’s structure, but where is the “thinking”? How can we best use our mind to learn about the mind?

In 24 exciting lectures, Professor Polk shares dozens of the most challenging questions in cognitive science today: How do humans process language? How do we make decisions, and why do we so often regret them later? What are emotions, and why do we feel them? How does the brain affect our visual perception of the world? In this course, Professor Polk gives the latest, exciting answers for these questions, and many more.

Genres: Nonfiction, Neuroscience, Psychology

Audible Audio

Published June 21, 2024

About the author

Professor Thad A. Polk is an Arthur F. Thurnau Professor in the Department of Psychology and the Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science at the University of Michigan. He received a B.A. in Mathematics from the University of Virginia and an interdisciplinary Ph.D. in Computer Science and Psychology from Carnegie Mellon University. He also received postdoctoral training in cognitive neuroscience at the University of Pennsylvania.

Professor Polk’s research combines functional imaging of the human brain with computational modeling and behavioral methods to investigate the neural architecture underlying cognition. Some of his major projects have investigated differences in the brains of smokers who quit compared with those who do not, changes in the brain as we age, and contributions of nature versus nurture to neural organization. Professor Polk regularly collaborates with scientists at the University of Texas at Dallas and at the Max Planck Institute for Human Development in Berlin, where he is a frequent visiting scientist.

Professor Polk regularly teaches on topics ranging from the human mind and brain, to cognitive psychology, to computational modeling of cognition. His teaching at the University of Michigan has been recognized by numerous awards, and he was named to The Princeton Review’s list of the Best 300 Professors in the United States.

Reviews

[Dennis Murphy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Introduction to Cognitive Science by Thad Polk is a good course! There's a great deal of time and attention given to going over fundamental concepts, and entertaining the listener with exercises to make sure you understand the material. Polk is engaging, and he covers a wide range of topics that act as a good introduction to the subject. My only complaint is that the course often makes reference to visual materials that are not available in the audio version, which is a shame. I can [i]imagine[/i] the pictures, but that's a poor substitute. The course is a bit denser and more technical than most of the other fare on offer from The Teaching Company, which can alienate some folks, but I like it.

[Nilesh Jasani · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a breezy lecture series on a serious topic. The professor builds up nicely after introducing concepts simply, assuming little prior knowledge. Even for readers somewhat familiar with the concepts, the approach - rarely seen in other popular science books on the subject - pays back in spades in the more difficult lectures on brain functions and properties. The chatty style helps reduce the weight of the topics covered. And, the course is designed to cover numerous common sub-topics in terms of broad conclusions, even if it leaves little room for details and disagreements. Definitely lives up to the first word in the title.

[Brian Pevensie · Rating 4 out of 5]

More lecture than book. Recommended for those interested in cognitive science and in particular those with an interest in computing and AI.