MYPS0111p Fundamentals of Cognitive Psychology - lecture

Faculty of Medicine
autumn 2025
Extent and Intensity
0.5/0/0. 3 credit(s). Type of Completion: zk (examination).
Teacher(s)
Mgr. Miroslav Šipula (lecturer)
Mgr. Lenka Štěpánková, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Mgr. Pavla Palkovičová (assistant)
Guaranteed by
Mgr. Lenka Štěpánková, Ph.D.
Department of Psychology – Faculty of Social Studies
Supplier department: Department of Psychology – Faculty of Social Studies
Timetable
Mon 15. 9. 12:00–13:40 Aula, Mon 29. 9. 12:00–13:40 Aula, Wed 15. 10. 8:00–9:40 P51 Posluchárna V. Čermáka, Mon 27. 10. 12:00–13:40 Aula, Mon 24. 11. 12:00–13:40 Aula, Wed 10. 12. 8:00–9:40 P51 Posluchárna V. Čermáka
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is only offered to the students of the study fields the course is directly associated with.
fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with
Abstract
It is an introductory course providing students with an insight into classical theories of human cognition. The lecture topics represent an overview of cognitive processes with an emphasis on scientific approach towards human cognition. This course represents a base for further study of other psychological disciplines.
Learning outcomes
After successful completion of the course, a student would be able to:
1. Characterize particular cognitive processes and their relation to behavior
2. Explain certain chosen theories of perception, attention, and memory models
3. Formulate a conclusion about the relation between human cognition, behavior, emotions and motivation
4. Describe scientific methods used in experimental research of cognition
5. Integrate the knowledge about human cognition into other psychological disciplines
Key topics
  • Course Introduction
  • Psychology as a separate scientific discipline, historical overview of psychological schools with the emphasis on cognitive revolution and its impact on the further development of the field, from cognitive revolution towards modern cognitive science, current trends in research and philosophy of consciousness (from Turing through Searle to Dannett).
  • Perception
  • Psychophysics (Weber-Fechner law), object recognition (Marr´s model, Biederman´s model), constructivist theory of perception vs. direct perception (Gibson), embedded cognition and affordances, color perception (Young-Helmholtz theory, Hering theory and Hurvich theory), gestalt laws of perception, visual illusions, perception pathology (blindsight, neglect, prosopagnosia), non-standard perception (synesthesia), mental representations, Paivio´s model of dual coding, schemas (Bartlett), scripts (Schank & Abelson), propositions (Kosslyn), mental rotations (Shepard & Metzler), boundary extension (Intraub).
  • Memory
  • Types of memory according to the information stored (episodic, semantic and autobiographical memory), the relation between episodic and autobiographical memory (Pathman et al., 2011), declarative and procedural memory, types of memory according the time period of information storage (Atkinson & Shiffrin model), working memory (Baddeley & Hitch), Conway´s model of autobiographical memory, autobiographical memory and trauma, reminiscence bump and cultural life scripts (Berntsen & Rubin), flashbulb memories (Brown & Kulik), Living in history (Brown), forgetting and amnesia.
  • Attention
  • Definition and characteristics of attention, classical filter theories of attention (Treisman, Deutsch & Deutsch, Broadbent), Kahneman, Norman and Bobrow´s model of attention, divided attention, cocktail party phenomenon, change blindness, experimental methods to test attention.
  • Language and speech
  • Foundations of psycholinguistics, cognitive anthropology, Sapir-Whorf hypothesis, language and thought, different theories of concept categorization, speech apprehension theories (Piaget, Vygotsky, Chládková), reading and speech production, theory of memes (Blackmore), aphasia.
  • Thinking and decision making
  • Making judgments and deciding, deduction and induction in thinking, Tversky and Kahneman prospect theory, heuristics, Damasio and Bechara (somatic marker hypothesis, Iowa gambling task and its criticism).
Study resources and literature
    required literature
  • EYSENCK, Michael W. and Mark T. KEANE. Cognitive psychology : a student's handbook. Seventh edition. London: Psychology Press, Taylor & Francis Group, 2015, xviii, 838. ISBN 9781848724167. info
  • EYSENCK, Michael W. and Mark T. KEANE. Kognitivní psychologie. Translated by Miroslav Filip. Vyd. 1. Praha: Academia, 2008, 748 s. ISBN 9788020015594. info
    recommended literature
  • GOLDSTEIN, E. B. (2014). Cognitive psychology: Connecting mind, research and everyday experience. Nelson Education.
  • KAHNEMAN, Daniel. Myšlení - rychlé a pomalé. Translated by Eva Nevrlá. Vydání první. V Brně: Jan Melvil, 2012, 542 stran. ISBN 9788087270424. URL info
  • STERNBERG, Robert J. Kognitivní psychologie. Translated by František Koukolík - Rostislav Benák - Dagmar Brejlová - Jiř. Vydání první. Praha: Portál, 2002, 636 stran. ISBN 8071783765. info
    not specified
  • Baars, B. J., & Gage, N. M. (2010). Cognition, brain, and consciousness: Introduction to cognitive neuroscience. Academic Press.
  • ŠIKL, Radovan. Zrakové vnímání. 1. vydání. Praha: Grada Publishing, 2012, 312 stran. ISBN 9788024730295. URL info
Approaches, practices, and methods used in teaching
Lectures
PowerPoint slides will be available after every lecture (uploaded at study materials). It is not advised to copy all the information on slides during lecture, but rather think about the material that is discussed during lecture and prepare comments and discussion questions.
Method of verifying learning outcomes and course completion requirements
Final exam. PC administrated test containing open answer questions and multiple-choice questions. Maximum is 50 points. Final exam and one quiz add up to maximum 70 points. Student is required to obtain at least 60 % of the total 70 point to pass the course.
Language of instruction
Czech
Further Comments
Study Materials
  • Enrolment Statistics (recent)
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