Understanding Thought: Interdisciplinary Research in the Master's Program in Cognitive Science

Philipp von Blohn wants to understand what constitutes intelligence—both artificial and human. In the master’s program in Cognitive Science at RPTU, he combines content from Computer Science, neuroscience, linguistics, and psychology. Even while still a student, he is already participating in research projects—and in the process, discovering his passion for science.

A test subject lies in the MRI scanner at the Westpfalz-Klinikum in Kaiserslautern. While the machine measures his brain activity, he performs various tasks. He is asked to block out distractions, suppress impulses, and concentrate. At the same time, researchers observe which areas of his brain are active. Right in the middle of it all: Philipp von Blohn.

For the master’s student, this is not an unusual visit to the hospital. It’s part of his daily routine as a student in the Master’s program in Cognitive Science. He regularly participates in studies, works as a research assistant at the department, and develops research questions for which he collects data. What at first glance looks like scientific work in the fields of medicine or psychology actually began for him with a traditional bachelor’s degree in Computer Science.

Between the Pandemic and the AI Boom

For Philipp von Blohn, the path to his bachelor’s program was a process. His interests in the natural sciences are wide-ranging: biology, medicine, technological developments—all these fields fascinate him. Since he had already enjoyed the subject in high school, however, he ultimately decided on Computer Science.

The first few semesters didn’t go as he’d hoped: due to the pandemic, most of the instruction took place online. “When I’m just sitting at home, I get distracted too easily,” he says. “It wasn’t until I was able to return to campus that my studies really took off.” Back in the seminar room, he soon discovered a topic that particularly interested him: artificial intelligence.

As language models like ChatGPT were gaining increasing public attention, he was already delving into their fundamentals as part of his studies. “During my first semesters, these tools were just really taking off. It motivated me that I was already able to explain to others at that point what AI is actually all about.”

At RPTU, faculty members are quick to pick up on new developments: just a short time later, the first seminars on the new language models were offered. In addition, there are numerous advanced AI modules and close collaboration with the German Research Center for Artificial Intelligence (DFKI) right on campus. “Here in Kaiserslautern, AI research is very well established and has excellent connections. That’s a major advantage.”

“Here in Kaiserslautern, AI research is very well established and has excellent connections. That’s a major advantage,” says Philipp von Blohn.

Philipp von Blohn is writing his bachelor’s thesis in collaboration with the DFKI. Together with his advisor, he develops an AI model designed to predict how a cell repairs a DNA strand that has been cut in a specific way. In the process, he realizes just how versatile artificial intelligence methods can be in research.

The deeper he delves into the subject, the more his perspective changes. “The topic of artificial intelligence captivated me, but at the same time, I wanted to learn more about the original—human intelligence.”

Toward the end of his bachelor’s program, as he was looking for a suitable master’s program, he suddenly remembered his Abitur yearbook: On the back, he had noticed an advertisement for the master’s program in Cognitive Science at RPTU. “I’d filed the ad away as something positive, but it was still too early for a master’s degree program back then. When I remembered it again, I thought to myself: This degree program could be a perfect fit for the questions that have been on my mind ever since.”

Philipp von Blohn did some research and discovered that the Master’s program in Cognitive Science combines exactly what he was looking for: research on human behavior, cognition, and intelligent systems. “When I took another close look at the degree program’s description, I was thrilled: I could combine my interests in different departments while still charting my own path.”

Brain Research from Different Perspectives

Philipp von Blohn finds the interdisciplinary focus of the master’s program particularly exciting. This is because it brings together various disciplines and opens up a new perspective on the question: What defines intelligence?

When asked about his degree program, he tries to break down its complexity. “I always sum it up in one word: brain research.” Behind this concise summary lies a broad field: The focus is on questions surrounding perception, thought, language, and both artificial and human intelligence.

To answer these questions, the degree program brings together students from a wide variety of areas of study. “Because of our different backgrounds, everyone contributes their own unique insights,” says Philipp von Blohn. “This helps us all grow because we engage in intensive discussion.” He also sees the size of his class as a positive factor: About 25 students began the program with him and received intensive guidance from professors and research assistants.

Research Doesn’t Start Only After Graduation

What Philipp von Blohn particularly appreciates about the Master’s in Cognitive Science is that he gains research experience even while he’s still a student. Participation in three research projects is mandatory: Students assist with data collection, conduct experiments, and actively contribute to ongoing projects. “That’s a huge plus for me,” he says.

Philipp von Blohn also experiences just how much research fascinates him through his project at the Westpfalz-Klinikum. The focus is on whether people are mentally more capable at certain times of the day and how this manifests in the brain. The research team is investigating this using so-called executive functions—that is, fundamental mental abilities such as working memory or inhibition, which is the ability to block out distractions and control impulses.

In the brains of evening people

Night owls are specifically selected for the study. After a preliminary test, they visit the hospital a total of four times: in the morning, mid-morning, afternoon, and evening. Each time, they lie in an MRI scanner and perform the same tasks while their brain activity is recorded.

The researchers pay attention not only to the participants’ performance but also to their brain activity. “It would be natural to assume that night owls show greater brain activity in the evening,” explains von Blohn. “But the hypothesis would actually be the opposite: that they have to exert less effort in the evening, and that their brain activity is therefore even lower.”

As part of the study, the students also develop their own research questions. Philipp von Blohn is investigating whether the different types of inhibition are processed in the same or in different areas of the brain. For him, the project exemplifies how closely theory and practice are linked in the master’s program. These experiences are now also influencing his career aspirations.

“Our department is needed, for example, in the automotive industry when it comes to how displays and information support drivers without distracting them.”

The interdisciplinary Master’s program in Cognitive Science opens up various career paths for graduates: “Our department is needed, for example, in the automotive industry when it comes to how displays and information support drivers without distracting them. Or in AI research, where knowledge of human cognition helps us understand and further develop machines. And, of course, in research, where many questions about perception, language, and consciousness remain unanswered.”

Philipp von Blohn hadn’t considered a career in research when he began his master’s program. Today, things look different. “Working on research projects has changed my perspective and sparked my enthusiasm for research,” he says. “There’s still so much to do—so many unanswered questions.” Cognitive science is a relatively young field of research. Much remains unclear, and technological development is advancing rapidly. His next research project will therefore focus more heavily on artificial intelligence again. “I’d like to work on an AI project again,” he says. And after that? After that, he could see himself writing a doctoral dissertation.