Department of Psychology

Dr. Katz’s research focuses on the comparative mechanism of learning and cognition. Ongoing projects involve avian same/different concept learning, the mechanisms by which pigeons learn matching to sample, behavioral mechanisms of auditory and visual list memory in primates, and problem solving in virtual environments. He has been honored with the APA’s Division 3 (Experimental Psychology) 2001 Young Investigator Award, Outstanding Professor - Auburn University Panhellenic Council (2003), Psi Chi Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching - Department of Psychology Auburn University (2002), College of Liberal Arts Early Career Teaching Award, Auburn University (2004-2005), and Who’s Who Among America’s Teachers (2002, 2004, 2005). He also currently holds teaching and research grants from the NSF and NIMH.

• 1998, Ph.D., Experimental Psychology, Tufts University
• 1989, B.A., Psychology, Ithaca College

• Sturz, B. R., Bodily, K. D., & Katz, J. S. (2006). Evidence against integration of spatial maps in humans. Animal Cognition, 9, 207-217.
• Wright, A. A., & Katz, J. S. (2006).Mechanisms of same/different concept learning in primates and avians. Behavioural Processes, 72, 234-254.
• Katz, J. S., Sturz, B. R., Bodily, K. D., & Hernandez, M (2006). Independent study: A conceptual framework. In W. Buskist & S. F. Davis (Eds.), Handbook of the Teaching of Psychology (pp. 131-136). Oxford, UK: Blackwell.
• Katz, J. S., & Wright, A. A. (2006). Same/different abstract-concept learning by pigeons. Journal of Experimental Psychology: Animal Behavior Processes, 32, 80-86.

• PSYC3130, Sensation and Perception
• PSYC3140, Cognitive Psychology
• PSYC4240, Advanced Experimental Psychology
• PSYC4960, Seminar in Psychology: Animal Cognition