The graduate program in Cognition, Perception, and Cognitive Neuroscience (CPCN) focuses on how humans perceive, remember, and think about the world. Faculty in Cognition have interests in problem solving, reasoning, human-computer interaction, language, spatial cognition, categorization, memory and attention. Faculty in Perception have interests in color vision, space perception, pattern vision, visual search, visual control of locomotion, perceptual learning and basic sensory processes. Our research is concerned with the development of basic theories of perception and cognition, the biological basis of these processes and the application of theories of perception and cognition to problems in information technology, education, medicine, and law. The CPCN faculty laboratories are well-funded by national research agencies including the National Science Foundation, the National Institute of Health, the US Air Force, the US Navy, and the National Aeronautical and Space Agency (NASA) totaling over $ 6,000,000 in funds.

What makes the CPCN@UCSB program unique and different from other programs around the country?

1. Access to state of the art research tools
   One unique aspect of the CPCN program is the use of many of the state of the art research tools including brain imaging (via the UCSB/Dartmouth Brain Imaging Program), virtual reality/environments, eye tracker technology, innovative mathematical/computer modeling and web-technology.
2. The study of theoretical and real world problems in cognition/perception
   Another unique quality of the CPCN program at UCSB is that it provides the opportunity for students to work not only on theoretical questions in cognition and perception but also real world problems important to education, medicine, human factors and law. The range of real world problems that CPCN faculty study is broad and includes the study of the use of multimedia in learning, human/computer interaction, navigation systems for the blind, the perception of medical images, and eye witness testimony,

Students in the program are encouraged to acquire a broad background in the cognitive and perceptual sciences as well as mastery of one or more specialty areas. In addition to developing an individualized research plan with a faculty advisor, they take a variety of courses and seminars and participate in the weekly CPCN Seminar. The seminar series attracts many prominent cognitive and perceptual scientists to the campus and also offers opportunities for students and faculty within the program to present their current work. Students may also choose to enhance and broaden their training through interdisciplinary emphases in Cognitive Science and Quantitative Methods.

Research groups in CPCN include the Vision Science Research Group, the Cognitive Neuroscience Research Group, the Cognition and Technology Research Group and the Research Center for Virtual Environments and Behavior. In addition, members of CPCN are active participants of UCSB interdisciplinary programs including the Center for Information Technology and the Program in Interactive Digital Multimedia.

We encourage you to contact a faculty member for any further inquiries!

Deadline for applications for CPCN: December 1, 2007

• Application information
• Learn about UC Santa Barbara
• UC Santa Barbara Graduate Division
• Information about City of Santa Barbara

Department | Research | Graduate Studies | Undergraduate Studies
News & Events | People | Search | Home