PSYC6510 – Vision and the Brain
Course description
Course content
The course will focus on the cognitive neuroscience of the human visual system based on convergent evidence gathered with a variety of methods, which include neuroimaging (e.g., fMRI), studies of eye movements, single neural cells’ recordings, computational models, effects of localized brain lesions, as well as the study of unusual subject populations (e.g., split-brain patients, synaesthetes) and evidence from studies with non-human primates. These topics will be dealt with from both the angle of normal performance and of pathology. The course will survey interdisciplinary material from evolutionary biology, medicine, psychology, computer science, philosophy, and the visual arts. The lectures will particularly focus on the processes of visual attention, perception (of colors, object forms, and faces), mental imagery, and visual memory, and how the human brain achieves awareness of visual objects.
Learning outcome
The goal of the course is to present knowledge and principles of the functioning of our brains on how we see and understand our visual world.
Admission
This course is only offered to students who have been admitted to the professional program of psychology. Only students in semesters 7-12 are allowed to take the course.
Only students admitted to the course may take part in instruction and tuition and sit for the examination.
Prerequisites
Formal prerequisite knowledge
Semesters 1-6 of the professional program in psychology have to be completed in advance
Overlapping courses
5 credits overlap with PSY4303 – Vision and the Brain (discontinued)
Teaching
The teaching will be given through seminars and lectures. 20 hours of lectures and 10 hours of seminars. Both seminars and lectures are mandatory (85% attendance required) to pass the course.
Examination
The students are required to give a oral presentation. Each student will select one research article (or a few related articles) from a list provided by the instructor and they will then prepare a public presentation (maximum 20 minutes) for the class. The use of Power Point for the presentations is strongly encouraged. The instructor will evaluate each presentation as either "pass" or "fail".
Language of examination
English.
Grading scale
Grades are awarded on a pass/fail scale. Read more about the grading system.
The results from the exam will be ready approximately 3 weeks after the exam. The exact date will be posted on the semester page and/or send out to the student email.
An external auditor regularly evaluates the academic quality of the course, including the form of exam used on the course.
Explanations and appeals
Resit an examination
Studenter kan s?ke om utsatt frist ved gyldig dokumentert grunn (sykdom o.l.)
Withdrawal from an examination
It is possible to take the exam up to 3 times. If you withdraw from the exam after the deadline or during the exam, this will be counted as an examination attempt.
Special examination arrangements
Application form, deadline and requirements for special examination arrangements.
Evaluation
The course is subject to continuous evaluation. At regular intervals we also ask students to participate in a more comprehensive evaluation.