Computational Models of Cognition and Behavior 🧠

Fall 2026

COA B27 ↗

MWF 10:00-10:50am

If you are joining the course late, please complete all assignments by the Friday of Week 3 (there will be no late penalty and you do not need to email us)!

Discussion Sections

Both sections meet on Wednesdays @ CSB 004 ↗ with Ian.

  • W, 4-4:50pm
  • W, 5-5:50pm

Office Hours

MondayTuesdayWednesday
Prof. Lai2–3:15pm 1-1s (booked) @ CSB 244 ↗
3:15–4:30pm open, walk-in @ CSB Courtyard ↗
Ian (TA)3pm @ CSB 123 ↗ or Zoom
Ian (TA)During discussion section

Course Calendar

WeekModuleMon LectureWed Lecture & SectionFri Lecture
Sept0
Sept 25

Course intro ↗Webclicker 101 ↗

1

Describe: Common statistical tests as GLMs

Sept 28Lec 1

Everything is a GLM: distribution families, linear predictors, link functions ↗

Sept 30Lec 2

Classical tests as GLMs ↗

Section

Section slides ↗

Oct 2Lec 3

Classical tests as GLMs (cont’d) ↗

Oct2

Predict: Prediction and inference with GLMs

Oct 5Lec 4

GLM assumptions and violations ↗

Oct 7Lec 5

GLM prediction, inference, and model evaluation

Section
Oct 9Lec 6

Moderation (interaction effects)

3
Oct 12Lec 7

Mediation (indirect effects)

Oct 14Lec 8

Mixed effects: fixed and random effects

Section
Oct 16Lec 9

Mixed effects: fitting and interpreting

4
Oct 19Lec 10

Guest lecture: Aubrey Lau

Senior UX Researcher, Zillow

Oct 21

EXAM 1

Section
Oct 23Lec 11

Generative vs. discriminative models; normative models of cognition

Last day to drop without a “W”

5

Explain: Generative models of cognition and behavior

Oct 26Lec 12

Reinforcement learning as a cognitive model of decision making

Oct 28Lec 13

Model simulation & behavioral predictions

Section
Oct 30Lec 14

Maximum-likelihood model fitting & parameter recovery

Nov6
Nov 2Lec 15

Model comparison & posterior predictive checks

Nov 4Lec 16

Latent variables and individual differences

Section
Nov 6Lec 17

Bayesian inference as a model of perception

Last day to drop with a “W”

7
Nov 9

Bayesian models of perception (cont’d)

Nov 11

NO CLASS

Veterans Day holiday

No section

Nov 13

EXAM 2

Project groups assigned

8
Nov 16Lec 18

Guest lecture: Ionatan Kuperwajs

Postdoctoral Fellow, Princeton CoCoSci Lab

Nov 18Lec 19

Bayesian models of action

Section
Nov 20Lec 20

Bayesian models of action (cont’d)

9
Nov 23Lec 21

Hidden Markov Models (HMMs) as a model of unobserved cognitive states

Nov 25Lec 22

HMMs (cont’d)

Section
Nov 27

NO CLASS

Thanksgiving holiday

Dec10
Nov 30Lec 23

HMMs (cont’d) — virtual lecture

Dec 2

EXAM 3

Section
Dec 4

COURSE PROJECT EXPO

& course conclusion

11
Dec 7
Dec 9
Dec 11

NO FINAL EXAM

All assignments are due by 11:59pm PT. Assignment names link to where you submit them. * indicates a group submission.