Untitled Document

The UCLA Department of Psychology offers exceptional opportunities for doctoral and postdoctoral research at all levels of visual science. From the anatomy and physiology of the retina, functional imaging of the visual brain and psychophysics of early cortical filtering, to scene segmentation, form, motion and space perception, object recognition, visual development, perceptual learning and visual cognition, researchers address the gamut of issues in vision. Faculty and students pursue these issues using psychophysical experiments, computational and mathematical modeling, brain imaging, and neuropsychological and physiological methods. An outstanding faculty, facilities and resources combine to provide a uniquely integrated environment for vision research, along with related fields of cognitive and neural science.


The UCLA Department of Psychology offers exceptional opportunities for doctoral and postdoctoral research at all levels of visual science. From the anatomy and physiology of the retina, functional imaging of the visual brain and psychophysics of early cortical filtering, to scene segmentation, form, motion and space perception, object recognition, visual development, perceptual learning and visual cognition, researchers address the gamut of issues in vision. Faculty and students pursue these issues using psychophysical experiments, computational and mathematical modeling, brain imaging, and neuropsychological and physiological methods. An outstanding faculty, facilities and resources combine to provide a uniquely integrated environment for vision research, along with related fields of cognitive and neural science.



The Program The Graduate Program leads to the doctoral degree in Psychology or Cognitive Neuroscience. Students work with one or more faculty members on research projects beginning in the first year, while they master basic concepts and methods in coursework. Basic and elective courses span a wide range of topics in sensation and perception, quantitative methods, functional imaging, behavioral neuroscience, cognition, development, and learning. Candidates complete an initial research project by the middle of the second year. They ordinarily advance to candidacy for the Ph.D. in the third or fourth year, while pursuing research leading to the dissertation. Several regular seminars feature prominent speakers addressing topics on the frontiers of vision, cognitive science, neuroscience, and psychology. These include weekly meetings of the Cognitive Science Seminar Series and Cognitive Forum and Departmental Colloquia. Other groups offer critical discussion of current research projects or articles, such as the Vision and Behavioral Neuroscience Lunch and numerous individual and collaborative lab meetings. Students pursue coursework and research in a uniquely broad and collaborative environment. Research projects often involve collaborations with two or more faculty members and broad training is encouraged.