Teaching

This site is used only as fallback distribution channel for some material I use for my classes at TU Darmstadt. No guarantee for completeness, correctness, or being up-to-date.

Topics in Cognitive Science (Summer 2026) - The Sense of Agency

I told you this was no link. -.-

Anyway, here, have the same information you already found on tucan.

Description

When we move and act in the environment, we humans can (normally) effortlessly differentiate effects or events we caused ourselves from those caused by others. This registration to be the cause of an action and its effect is called Sense of Agency (SoA).

In this course we will journey through a range of scientific fields, always looking out for this elusive Sense of being an agent. We will start with some philosophical viewpoints, discuss common cognitive models how SoA arises and breaks, shine light on ways to measure SoA in behavioural and neurophysiological experiments, explore how failure to form an SoA can be connected to mental disorders, and see how SoA is connected to robust, embodied (motor) learning.

We will spend the first half of the course discussing perspectives (e.g. high and low level SoA, intentionality vs. re-afference), experiments (e.g. intentional binding, sensory attenuation, control confusion) and cognitive models (e.g. comparator model, multifactorial weighting) of the SoA. In the latter half, we will look at a selection of more recent developments in computational modelling of SoA in health and disease. The concrete focus here, can be defined together with the students.

Learning goals

By the end of the course you will know what a Sense of Agency is and what role it plays in different scientific fields. Specifically, you should know the general pros and cons of common perspectives, experiments and models of the SoA. Furthermore, you will have deeper knowledge on selected computational models (making use) of the SoA.

Requirements

To pay respect to the common language of modern science, the course will be taught in English. Questions may be asked in German too, however, the course material will be in English.

Basics in statistics, experimental design and programming are required. Experience in working with scientific literature is advantageous. Extensive programming will not be necessary to pass the course.