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Sensation and Perception


Course Description

How organisms sense and perceive the environment. Topics discussed are anatomy and physiology of the sensory systems, types of stimuli affecting sensory systems, and current knowledge and theories of our perceptual abilities.


Athena Title

Sensation and Perception


Equivalent Courses

Not open to students with credit in PSYC 4120E


Pre or Corequisite

PSYC 3990 or PSYC 3990E


Semester Course Offered

Offered fall and spring


Grading System

A - F (Traditional)


Course Objectives

By the end of this course students should: 1. Have gained a general understanding and appreciation of their sensory/perceptual systems. 2. Have an understanding of the general anatomy, processes, and functions of the different sensory/perceptual systems. 3. Have gained first hand experience about many perceptual abilities/systems through the lab portion of the class. 4. Be able to engage in meaningful discussions of current approaches to sensation and perception. 5. Understand the role of theories and models in the study of sensation and perception. 6. Understand how models are used to generate new psychological knowledge. 7. Understand how experimental data relate to theories and models of sensory/perceptual processes.


Topical Outline

1. Historical perspectives on significant discoveries, contributors, and major issues and trends forming the area 2. Psychophysics 3. Basic neurophysiology and neuropsychology related to sensation and perception 4. Vision 5. Audition 6. Taste 7. Smell 8. Somatosensory systems (e.g., touch, pressure, pain, warm and cold, kinesthesis) 9. Individual differences, defects and possible corrections, and development of abilities may also be included.


Syllabus