An interdisciplinary study of the mind and intellect is cognitive science. It merges several disciplines, including computer science, philosophy, linguistics, neuroscience, anthropology, sociology, and biology as well as psychological science and cognitive psychology. Our knowledge of how the human brain functions has been greatly influenced by research in cognitive science, which has helped us examine cognitive development, general brain science, and cognitive processes.
The work of prominent psychologist Jean Piaget, whose Cognitive Development Theory claims that the development of cognitive capacities is caused by several transformations and different states, is included in the field of cognitive sciences. According to his thesis, when a person matures from infancy to adulthood, change is necessary for cognitive development to take place. Even though Piaget did much of his psychology research in the 1920s, his cognitive model continues to serve as the foundation for contemporary developments in cognitive sciences.
Edward Tolman’s 1948 research on the cognitive map, which compared humans’ and animals’ capacity for re-navigating familiar locations, is another important piece of work. More recently, John O’Keefe, May-Britt Moser, and Edvard Moser received the 2014 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for their work in cognitive neuroscience. Their investigation into the “inner GPS in the brain” revealed how both people and animals can navigate their surroundings.
Working in the field of cognitive science can lead to a variety of positions in both the public and private sectors because it crosses so many fields. Additionally, as Artificial Intelligence approaches human brain function, IT companies are actively seeking candidates with credentials in this field because they have a strong understanding of cognitive function.
Online Courses in Cognitive Science
A learner can explore the realm of cognitive science by taking one of the many online courses available. For instance, Osaka University provides a course called Cognitive Neuroscience Robotics that teaches students how to mix engineering and medicine to develop innovative robotic technologies.
The Dog Behavior and Cognition XSeries at Arizona State University examines the cognitive mechanisms at work in the canid mind and investigates how dogs see and comprehend their environment. Microsoft provides a high-level introduction to AI and machine learning called Introduction to Artificial Intelligence.
Jobs in Cognitive Science
Studying Cognitive Science equips students for employment in a variety of fields, including information systems, research, government, and teaching. This is because the field of cognition has such a broad application. Salary ranges for employment such as Web Developer, Technical Writer, or Postsecondary Teacher, all of which may call for a Cognitive Science degree, start at $70,000 or more, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor.
On the job portal Indeed, there are hundreds of postings just for cognitive science, such as Research Scientist – Cognitive Modeling, Postdoctoral Researcher Cognitive Science, Staff Scientist, and Machine Learning Scientist. On Indeed, there are more than 13,000 machine learning-related positions available, more than 5,000 of which start at six figures.