Course Description:
This upper level course explains how information gets into the human organism and how this information is interpreted. It emphasizes the practical application of knowledge about the function of the sensory systems and the perceptual phenomena in various professional areas. The sorts of questions addressed in this class include the following; how are sensation and perception developed through the lifespan? What are the anatomical structures of the senses? How is perception constructed from the information of the sensory channels and what factors affect this complex process? How are visual and aural illusions produced? How can knowledge of sensation and perception be useful in practical affairs? The course studies visual perception in detail, while the other senses are discussed in an introductory manner: audition, skin senses, smell, and taste. This is primarily a course for students planning further study of Psychology, Human Development or those with an especial interest in the physiology of perception.
Prerequisites: Introduction to Psychology, General Psychology or the equivalent. The completion of a a course in behavioral neuroscience, or biology of the brain, or a related course is recommended but is not required to take the course.
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