- Case, John
-
One part of his cognitive science related research is within
computational learning theory
(COLT),
the mathematical study
of the capabilities and limits of machines to learn, from relevant
data, rules for computing functions or for recognizing concepts.
His work in
COLT
employs such tools from mathematical logic as
recursive function theory and
machine
self-reference, and he is
also interested in the latter as a model of machine self-knowledge.
Another part of his work involves discrete, analog simulations on
lattice-connected
computers to model spatial reasoning and mental
image manipulation.
- Chester, Daniel
-
He studies some of the knowledge representation issues regarding the
integration of linguistic and nonlinguistic knowledge. A robotics
project at ASEL provides a
context in which to relate the representations of sentences to visual
and kinematic
information that drives a robot arm's actions. An image query project
ties together the problems of representing the ambiguous
meanings of natural language with those of representing the information
content of images, which is usually fuzzy because it is
often not clear where one object or event ends and another begins.
- Coleman, Elaine
-
Applied Cognitive Science focuses on how cognitive science can be applied
to classroom learning. Elaine's research focuses on the role of
explanation as a mediator for changing students' beliefs about scientific
phenomena. Her long-range goal is to develop a model of the explanation
process in learning that informs both cognitive learning theory and
educational practice. She is also interested in the use of collaborative
technology to alter the nature of classroom discourse and learning.
- Cole, Peter
-
His area of specialization is comparative syntax. He is
currently especially interested in two topics in syntax: long distance
reflexives (like Chinese ziji)
and question formation. In addition to syntax per se, he
has written papers on semantics and
pragmatics, and is interested in how the scientific study of language
can contribute to cognitive science in general.
-
Frawley, William
-
His current research is on the relation between social and
computational views of mind. This involves looking at the role of language
in problem-solving (especially private speech), metaprocesses (e.g.,
theory of mind), and certain disorders (e.g., Williams Syndrome, Turner
Syndrome, Spina Bifida, and Noonan Syndrome); it also involves the study
of cognitive analogues of computational control. He also continues to do
work on semantics, with a long-standing interest in identifying the
minimal semantic content necessary for children to learn the meaning
system of their language.
-
Golinkoff, Roberta
-
Her three-pronged research program (much of it conducted in
collaboration with honors undergraduates and graduate students) focuses
on how children learn their first
language. Having developed a new method to assess language comprehension
in preverbal infants with Kathy Hirsh-Pasek, she has done numerous
studies on what children
understand about language structure before they can produce those
structures themselves, and, using a model developed with Carolyn Mervis
and Kathy Hirsh-Pasek, she conducts studies on how
children's construal of word meanings changes with development.
In addition, she is interested in how
``infant-directed speech,'' or the special register we use to address
young children, affects language acquisition.
- Hermon, Gabriella
-
She is interested in syntactic theory and first language acquisition and
theories of second language acquisition. Some courses she teaches:
Principles and Parameters in First Language Acquisition; The
Acquisition of Syntax; Syntactic Theories; Second Language Acquisition
and Bilingualism.
- Hoffman, James
-
Understanding written and spoken language makes significant demands on
working memory. Working memory represents currently activated knowledge
and procedures and is limited in capacity. He has been examining how
individual differences in working memory capacity impact on a reader's
understanding of simple stories using a measure of brain activity based
on the event-related brain potential or ERP. ERP measures show promise in
providing unobtrusive, on-line measures of language comprehension and
capacity use during reading.
-
Landau, Barbara
-
Her research concerns the nature of human spatial representations, the
nature of human language, and the relationships between the two. Her
current research emphasis is on the acquisition and mature representation
of spatial terms, including names for objects, actions, and spatial
relationships. Although much of her work is developmental, she is also
interested in spatial and linguistic representation in adults and in
unusual populations, such as Williams Syndrome individuals.
-
McLaughlin, John P.
-
He is interested in aesthetic experience. His research is primarily
focussed on responses to visual art and explores the impact of variables
such as compositional configuration on different subgroups of observers,
e.g., novices and experts. Memory for aesthetically-important qualities
is also under examination.
-
Mosberg, Ludwig
-
His research interests are in the area of human information processing,
particularly in language comprehension and the acquisition of knowledge.
Present research is on cognitive processing strategies of reading and
listening in academically successful dyslexic adults.
-
Murray, Frank B.
-
He is working on two long-term research programs regarding elementary
school children. These concern how a young pupil acquires the idea that
some events are necessary rather than contingent and an investigation of
the important role of social interaction in facilitating the development
of these and other ideas. He has also been active in several national
educational reform movements.
This page is under construction.
