Zhuanghua ShiDragan Rangelov

Psychophysics

Course lecturers and tutors

28%

53%

9%

9%

Perception

White and Gold Black and Blue Blue and Brown Switching

4

Reality ≠ Perception = f()

Psychophysics

= f()

• behavior: RT, accuracy• stimulus inputs

Behavior = f(stimulus inputs)

Why a course on psychophysical methods

?

Why a course on psychophysical methods

Experience• Introspection• Observation

Cognitive architecture• RT/errors• Thresholds• …

Neural mechanisms• fMRI• EEG• TMS• …

Why a course on psychophysical methods

• Complexity of neuro-cognitive phenomena requires their analysis on different levels

• Levels are characterized by different methodological and research approaches

• Analysis of behavioral measures helps interpretation of neuroimaging results

Describing and opening the black box

• Psychophysics

• Describing what functions the cognitive system performs

• Cognitive neuroscience

• Describing how and where are these functions implemented

f(S, O)

Stimulus

Behavior

Stimulus

Behavior

Imaging

Tilt illusion

• Erroneous perception of the tilt of the inner grating as a function of contextual stimulation

Psychophysics of the tilt illusion

Schwartz et al., 2007, NatRevNeur

Neuroscience of the tilt illusion

• Electrophysiological measure• responses of populations of neurons to

local orientation stimuli

Repulsive tuning shifts in primary visual cortex neurons for space and time, for context target differences of 15°

Bringing together behavior and neurons

• From recordings of neurons (left) behavior can reliably be predicted (right-hand side)

Aims of the course• Overview of “classical” psychophysical methods • with reference to their applications in current

neuro-cognitive psychology research. • Demonstrate purely “psychological” tools for

investigating internal states and processes• Hands-on experience.

Schedule  Strongway, Dragan   Efsun, Leo   Markus

  Lecture, Mon, 14 – 16:00, Leo 1208 Tutorial G1, Tue, 14 – 16:00,

Leo 1202 Tutorial G2, Wed, 14 – 16:00, Leo 1206

19.10.15 Intro + SDT I 20.10.15 Article distribution 21.10.15 Article distribution

26.10.15 Adpative Methods 1 27.10.15Introduction/Tutor presentations/Student assignments

28.10.15TUE: Seminar with

Efsun/Leo (Tutor Presentations)

02.11.15 Adaptative Methods 2 03.11.15 Student Presentations 04.11.15 Introduction

09.11.15 RT I 10.11.15Experiment instruction Week / Lab tour (2 groups) 11.11.15 Experiment Design

16.11.15 RT II 17.11.15 Designing the experiment 18.11.15 Methods & Lab Tour

23.11.15 RT III 24.11.15 Data collection/office hours 25.11.15 Data Collection

30.11.15 RT IV 01.12.15 Data collection/office hours 02.12.15 Data Collection

07.12.15 08.12.15 Data Analysis (SPSS + R) 09.12.15 Analysis I

14.12.15 EXAM 15.12.15Data interpretation + Discussion 16.12.15 Analysis II & Discussion

21.12.15 22.12.15No regular class: Slot reserved for preparation of conference presentation

11.01.16 12.01.16Final Discussion, Presentation practice, & Report writing

20.01.16 NCP conference + Tijuana (all)

Practical work

• Teaser papers available tomorrow• Two groups:

1. Looking• Visual search and memory learning

2. Touching• Tactile contextual learning

• Main goal – practical application of the methods covered in the lectures

Structure of the course

• Requirements for course credit points (5 CP)• Active participation in lectures and tutorials• Presentation of the projects’ results• Exam• Written report

Criteria for the evaluation of the students’ presentation

• Theoretical importance of the research• Research question• Paradigm and data collection• Appropriateness of data analyses• Well illustrated by examples and figures• Timing of the talk: • 20 minutes• good allocation of time for different parts

Criteria for written report

• 6 – 8.000 words long• Structure• Abstract• Introduction • Methods/Results• Discussion• References – consistently formatted (APA)

• Written report will be graded by several reviewers

Course materials

• Lecture slides• http://www.psy.lmu.de/exp/people/ma/

rangelov/teaching• Research projects related materials provided by

the tutors

QUESTIONS?