PY3110 - Sensing and interpreting the world: a psychological perspective

This subject reviews the anatomy and physiology of the visual, auditory, gustatory, olfactory and somatosensory systems from periphery to cortex and explores how neural activity gives rise to our rich perceptual world. It explores the hypothesis that all perceptions are creations of our brains and looks at how and why we have evolved this strategy. Visual and somatosensory perception are dealt with in particular detail. Students are introduced to the essentials of psychophysics.

Learning Outcomes

• examine the anatomy and physiology of the senses and the experiences to which they give rise;
• appraise the manner in which humans make sense of sensory information around them;
• examine the experimental techniques used to study perception and apply their findings to the study of sensation and perception.

Subject Assessment

• end of semester exam (50%)
• presentations (20%)
• essays (30%).

Note: Minor variations might occur due to the continuous Subject quality improvement process, and in case of minor variation(s) in assessment details, the Subject Outline represents the latest official information.