Representation and computation: These two concepts have become the bedrock of the late 20th century concept of the mind. Contemporary cognitive science and cognitive neuroscience agree that minds (brains) are full of representations (thoughts, ideas, perceptions, and the like) and that these representations interact and change through their interactions. The dance of representations is computation.

But the two terms, representation and computation, are both abstract and highly ambiguous. What are their possible meanings? In a series of lab exercises, we will explore the meaning and implications of these foundational concepts in cognitive science. You will discover that there are many kinds of computing that brains might use. In these labs, you'll experience a mix of thought exercises and computer simulations, introducing ideas of representation and semantics, and computation that ranges from the "classic" Turing machine to simulations of the neural networks of the brain.

No special expertise is needed to get the full value of these labs. In particular, you need not have extensive computer experience, as the simulations are quite "user-friendly." The main goal is to provide a concrete encounter with the foundations of the cognitive sciences. We hope you will take these experiences with you into class discussions in both Minds & Brains and Introduction to Cognitive Science. Equally important, we hope that you will enjoy the lab experience as a chance to discuss some of the deepest questions about the mind with new friends.