Description:

The study of sensation and perception is central to all of psychology because in order to make an adaptive response, one must first understand the nature of the stimulus. In this course we study the structure of the sense organs and how they transduce the physical stimulus into a neurophysiological response. We then follow the anatomical projections of the sensory neurons into and through the brain, discussing the particular types of neural information processing occurring at each synaptic level. Our current knowledge from anatomical and physiological investigations is related to classical psychophysical, modern cognitive, and other behavioral investigations. This knowledge has been acquired over several centuries through a multi-disciplinary scientific endeavor. In the end, the goal is to understand the classical perceptual problems discussed in psychology at several different levels of analysis -- from the most basic electrochemical events in the brain to the more cognitive and phenomenological events in the mind.

Texts:

Sekuler. Perception. 1994

Grading and Requirements:

Exams: multiple choice

Prerequisites:

Psychology 301 with a grade of C or better, Psychology 418 or an equivalent statistics course with a grade of C or better, and upper division standing.

Updated 16 June 1998
Department of Psychology, College of Liberal Arts
University of Texas at Austin

Some graphics courtesy of Ann Pommerehn