The primary aim of this area of specialization is to encourage and develop the use of mathematical theory in psychology, cognition, and cognitive science. All of the mathematical modeling laboratories utilize computers to carry out construction and simulation of models, and as process-control and data acquisition devices. These computers operate in several independent laboratories, which include a full range of equipment for conducting research: closed-circuit television, high resolution display units, analog-to-digital and digital-to-analog converters, and speech synthesizers.

Additional hardware and software is available to provide very general and flexible experimental procedures. Students in the mathematical psychology program are trained in the use of computers and are encouraged to use them in their research.

The curriculum in mathematical psychology deals with progressively deeper and more advanced application of mathematical thinking in psychology. Students must fulfill 18 credit hours in the modeling area, including the required Q550 (Models in Cognitive Science). Mathematically oriented courses and seminars in specialized topics such as learning, memory, attention, information processing, speech perception, psycholinguistics, perception, decision making, choice, categorization, scaling, and test theory are offered on a regular basis, as are advanced courses and seminars in computer applications, multivariate analysis, and advanced statistical theory.