INSTRUCTOR: Dr. Grau
OFFICE: Psychology 215
OFFICE HOURS: Tuesday and Thursday, 11:00-12:30
E-MAIL: j-grau at tamu.edu
TEXTS: Learning: A multidisciplinary approach, by J. Grau, online text
Principles of Learning and Behavior, by M. Domjan, 5th Ed.
Supplementary readings wil be made available online
EXAMS: Exam 1: 40 points (8 out of 9 takehome questions [24 hrs, 10/15-10/21])
Final: 40 points (8 out of 9 takehome questions [24 hrs, 12/3-12/9])
Research Proposals: 20 points (10 points each, due 10/30 and 11/25)
WWW: http://GrauLab.tamu.edu/J-Grau/Psyc606.html
8/26: The nature of learning
Readings: Grau, c. 1; Killeen , 2001; Domjan, c. 1 (opt.)
8/28: Historical precedents (up to British Empiricists)
Readings: Empiricism, Mill
9/2: Historical precedents (up to Behaviorism)
Readings: Titchener; Pavlov; Darwin; Thorndike; Behaviorism
9/4-9/9: Learning after Watson
Reading: Kimble, 1994; Neobehaviorism
9/11: A framework for learning and behavior systems
Readings: Grau, c. 5 and 6; Timberlake, 1999
9/16: Phenomena, inference and mechanisms
Readings: Grau, c. 2; Domjan, c. 2;
9/18: Theories
Readings: Grau, Theories of Motivation (sect. on opponent process)
9/23: Learning from an invertebrate
Readings: Grau, c. 12;
9/25: Plasticity within the vertebrate spinal cord
Readings: Grau, c. 14;
9/30-10/2: Phenomena and inference
Readings: Grau, c. 3; Domjan, c. 3 and 4
10/7: Mechanisms
10/9-10/14: Theories
10/16: Neurobiological mechanisms
10/21: Phenomenae and mechanisms
Domjan, c. 11
10/23: Neurobiological mechanisms
Grau, c. 13 (A slice of the nervous system)
10/28: Phenomena and Mechanisms
Grau c. 7; Domjan, c. 5 & 6
10/30-11/4: Theories of reinforcement
Domjan c. 7 & 9
11/6: Neurobiological mechanisms
11/11-11/13: Phenomena and Mechanisms
Domjan, c. 8 & 10
11/20: Pheneomena, Mechanisms, and Neurobiology
Domjan, c. 9
11/25: Reasoning and inference
Domjan, c. 12
12/2: Language
Additional Information:
Course description (from the 2008 Graduate Catalog): Procedural and theoretical issues in the study of basic learning mechanisms in animals and humans, including Pavlovian and instrumental conditioning. Applications of this work to other domains and relevant biological mechanisms also discussed.
Prerequisite: The catalog suggests an undergraduate course in learning (PSYC 340) is a prerequisite. While such a course is helpful, the instructor recognizes that many do not have this prequisite and will work to provide the essential background.
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