Course objectives:

This course provides a sampling of current theory and research in the psychology of attention and performance.  The main goal is to understand some of the processes that are involved in normal everyday behaviors such as scanning a visual scene, selecting a part of that scene to process more fully, and reaching for nearby objects.  These processes include: perception of the locations of external objects; perception of the positions of the limbs and eyes; preparation of commands to the muscles that produce eye and hand movements; movement and focusing of visual attention.  These processes will be studied by reading "classic" and recently published scientific journal articles, and discussing the articles in class.  An important component of the course will involve brief student presentations of material that goes beyond the assigned reading.  Students will also learn how to read and think about scientific journal articles, and they will develop skills important for communicating ideas to others.

This course will be useful for students who plan to pursue psychology in graduate school.  This course will also be useful for students who do not plan to pursue psychology in graduate school.