BIONB 3960 - Introduction to Sensory Systems

(PBS-AS)

Spring (offered alternate years). Next Offered: 2019-2020. 3 credits. Student option grading.

Prerequisite: BIONB 2220 or equivalent. Enrollment limited to: 22 students.

R. R. Hoy.

This is a survey course on sensory systems that focuses on how humans and other animals detect and process environmental information that guides adaptive behavioral actions. Sensory function will be tackled from multiple levels of biological organization, from cell and molecular to sensory organs, to sensory systems in the brain, to sensori-motor integration, and finally to behavior. Behavior analysis will include psychophysical viewpoints and the role of behavioral plasticity, including learning.

Outcome 1: To be able to explain, diagram, or prepare a brief power point presentation that summarizes current knowledge about how any environmental signal or stimulus energy (light/vision; soundwaves/audition; chemical molecule(s)/ olfaction-gustation; or bodily stimulation during action/somatosensation-proprioception) is transduced into bioelectrical signals in sensory organs and sensory pathways in the brain that generates in the subject a sensation, perception, thought, or overt behavioral act.

Outcome 2: To be able to compare and contrast the different sensory modalities in terms of their adaptive/survival value in humans and other animals in a way that recognizes how natural selection shaped any given sensory system for the animal that possesses it.

Outcome 3: To be able to explain the process of sensory transduction in sensory organs at the cellular and molecular levels and the way that these organs process excitation into spike codes that represent the output of sensory organs.

Outcome 4: To be able to explain why the way humans and perhaps other animals perceive the unfolding of natural scenes (such as natural vision or auditory scenes) as involving not only modality-specific information but also behavioral goal-directed actions that need to take into account motor programs that underlie adaptive/appropriate reactions or behavior.