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"Sensory Systems" takes an integrated look at how information from the outside world is processes by a nervous system. Focussing on the neuronal cell and circuit level of the senses in primates, it also compares "sense" across species, and expands to examine how senses are integrated and interpreted at a cognitive level.

BIOL21341 Pre-requisite is BIOL10832

This course aims to explain:

• how external stimuli impact upon central neural pathways to give rise to perception.
• the nature and extent of sensory systems from periphery to CNS, with emphasis on the higher mammalian systems, but including appropriate comparative comparisons.
• basic elements of the cognitive processes involved in sensory interpretation and reaction.

• Introduction to comparative sensory physiology (1 module)
• Chemoreception: gustation and olfaction (2 modules)
• Vision: eye, retina and the vision we don’t see (3 modules)
• Comparative aspects of colour vision (1 module)

Students should be able to; 
Comprehend the ability of the nervous system to access, integrate and interpret sensory information. 
Understand the common plan of sensory systems across species, as models for neuroscience research. 
Look beyond "sense" to cognition.
 

Students should be able to; 
Acquire new information from lecture and non-lecture sources. 
Integrate and understand complex concepts. 
Understand complex concepts. 
Understand and apply factual knowledge.

Students should be able to; Retrieve information from non-lecture sources; integrate this with material delivered in the module.

Students should be able to be self motivate and use all the available learning resources.

Coursework 30%

• 500 words
• 15 working days through Canvas

End of Semester Exam 70%

• Section A- MCQs 
• Section B- SAQs

 The Canvas online discussion board will be used for specific questions so that all students and staff can view and comment on these. Alternatively, students can e-mail staff directly and the question will be transferred to the discussion board, anonymously, along with the answer. There will be a feedback session after the exam. 

Bear MF, Connors BW & Paradiso MA. Neuroscience: Exploring the Brain (3rd Edition) 2006 Lippincott, Williams and Wilkins

Kandel ER, Schwartz JH & Jessel TM. Principles of Neural Science (4th Edition) 2000 McGraw-Hill Medical

For Information and advice on Link2Lists reading list software, see:

The year studying abroad is an integral part of the course and must be completed. Some costs, such as tuition fees, are substantially lower. Other costs can vary and are not included in the tuition fee. For example, living costs may be higher or lower than the UK, and there are travel-related costs to consider, such as paying for a passport, visa fees, health insurance, and (if needed) vaccinations.

All students should normally be able to complete their programme of study without incurring additional study costs over and above the tuition fee for that programme. Any unavoidable additional compulsory costs totalling more than 1% of the annual home undergraduate fee per annum, regardless of whether the programme in question is undergraduate or postgraduate taught, will be made clear to you at the point of application. Further information can be found in the University's (PDF document, 91KB).

Students participating in placements outside the UK may be able to apply for funding from the depending on eligibility. Priority will be given to students from low income households.