Module "Cognitive Psychology" (Landau): Infos and Exam Literature, WS 2026/27

This is the literature we recommend for the oral exam in the „Cognitive Psychology“ module. The literature can be found in the OLAT course „RPTU_Schmidt_Cognitive Science Literature“. The access code can be found on our Newspage. For more information on our seminars, see the respective entries on our news page.

There will generally be two or three classes per semester on a rotating schedule. The class “Visual Attention & Awareness” takes place every summer, the class “Methods & Models in Perception” (old title: “Psychophysics & Signal Detection”) takes place every winter. Because weekly commuting is practically impossible, both these classes will take place as block seminars. In addition, there are other classes that are principally open for Landau students ("Visual Features & Objects", “Visuomotor Control”, “Auditory Perception”, “Cognitive Aging”, “Literaracy”).

The module exam is one oral exam designed to cover the entire module, but only those classes from the module you actually took. The specialized materials in the various readers (e.g., research papers in „Visual Attention & Awareness“, „Human Intelligence“) are not part of the exam, only the textbook sources listed below. 

Oral exams conducted jointly by Thomas Schmidt & Daniela Czernochowski:

The oral exams will probably take place sometime in February 2027,  Kaiserslautern campus, Geb. 57, R. 567. We are prepared to cover the entire material for the Cognitive Science module, including “Human Intelligence” and “Creativity”.

Literature:

„Visual Attention & Awareness“:

Ashcraft, M.H. (2006). Cognition. Pearson. → Ch. 4, „Attention“.

Eysenck, M.W., & Keane, M.T. (2010). Cognitive Psychology. Psychology Press. Ch. 5, "Attention and Performance".

“Methods & Models in Perception” (old title: "Psychophysics & Signal Detection“):

Hautus, M.J., Macmillan, N.A., & Creelman, C.D. (2022). Detection Theory: A User’s Guide. Routledge. → Ch. 1, „The Yes-No experiment: Sensitivity“.

Gescheider, G.A. (2015). Psychophysics: The Fundamentals. Psychology Press. → Ch. 4, „Classical Psychophysical Theory“.

“Auditory Perception”:

Goldstein, E.B. (2010). Sensation and Perception. Wadsworth. → Ch. 11, „Sound, the Auditory System, and Pitch Perception“.

Goldstein, E.B. (2010). Sensation and Perception. Wadsworth. → Ch. 12, „Sound Localization and the Auditory Scence“.

"Visuomotor Control":

Rosenzweig, M.R., Breedlove, S.M., & Watson, N.V. (2005). Biological Psychology. Sinauer. → Ch. 11, "Motor Control and Plasticity".

Eysenck, M.W., & Keane, M.T. (2010). Cognitive Psychology. Psychology Press. Ch. 4, "Perception, Motion, and Action".

"Visual Features & Objects":

Eysenck, M.W., & Keane, M.T. (2010). Cognitive Psychology. Psychology Press. Ch. 2, "Basic Processes in Visual Perception".

Eysenck, M.W., & Keane, M.T. (2010). Cognitive Psychology. Psychology Press. Ch. 3, "Object and Face Recognition".

„Neuroscience of Cognitive Control“:

Gazzaniga, M.S. (2014). Cognitive Neuroscience. → Ch. 12, „Cognitive Control“.

„Human Intelligence, Problem Solving, & Creative Thinking“:

"Problem Solving":

Ashcraft, M.H. (2006). Cognition. Pearson. → Ch. 12, „Problem Solving“.

"Intelligence":

See the PDF file „literature list intelligence.pdf“ on OLAT with links to the chapters.

"Creativity":

Prof. Jaarsveld’s slideshows „Creativity 1A.pdf", "Creativity 1B.pdf", "Creativity 1C.pdf“

“Literacy”:

Snowling, M.J. et al. (2022). The Science of Reading: A Handbook. Wiley. Ch. 1-6.