Human Memory                                            Ira Fischler
EXP 4504, Section 1598                                             090 Psy Bldg
Fall  2007                                                                        392-0601 ext 228
T(2 - 3), R(3)                                                                    ifisch@ufl.edu
PSY 287                                                                           http://www.psych.ufl.edu/~fischler/


This course surveys the study of human memory, both in the experimental laboratory and clinic, and in more natural settings. The emphasis is on work concerning memory among normal adults, but we will also be looking at effects of various disorders, aging, individual differences, methods of memory improvement, and attempts to model memory quantitatively and computationally.

CLASS LISTSERV: An email listserv has been created so I can get announcements out to everyone quickly, and you can communicate with other class members as a group. The email address is FALL-1598-L@lists.ufl.edu. NOTE: If you reply to an email from me, it will reply to the list, so everyone will get it. If you want to reply to me specifically, send a separate message to my email address (ifisch@ufl.edu).

EXP 4504 IN THE CURRICULUM: This course is an upper-division course that, along with several other courses in cognitive psychology, follows the Foundation course EXP 3604. It is appropriate for psychology majors and others interested in both experimental and clinical aspects of memory and its relation to cognition.

TEXTS:  We will be reading and discussing most of Gabriel Radvansky's recent text, Human Memory (Allyn & Bacon, 2006), and much of Daniel Schacter’s Searching for Memory (Basic Books, 1996). There will also be a variety of supplementary readings assigned during the term, which will be available either as PDF files or web links.  

EXAMS: There are three noncumulative exams during the term. Each is worth 20% of your grade. Format is largely short-answer. A sample exam is available at the course web page.

RESEARCH ASSIGNMENTS: There are two written papers required. The first will be an empirical replication of some memory phenomenon, and APA-style report. The second will be modelled after an article on some aspect of memory that you might find in a general-readership magazine like Discover Magazine. We'll explain the details of these assignments in class. Maximum length for both of these is 10 pages, including title page, references, etc. Each is worth 15% of your grade. Due dates are Oct 4 and Nov 13.

CASE STUDY PRESENTATIONS: Each of you will prepare a brief (10 minute maximum) presentation of a clinical case study of impaired memory for class discussion. These will be drawn from the current (2004 to now) scientific literature. Guidelines for the presentations will be discussed in class, and are summarized in a document under Other Materials. The presentation should be prepared inPowerPoint format. The visual and oral presentation together are worth 10% of your grade.