Signals and Perception: The Science of The Senses (SD329)
This interdisciplinary course uses fundamental concepts from biology, chemistry, physics and psychology to explain how we interact with our environment ...
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The Science of the Senses - SD329/BLK1/2
This book is split into two blocks of study, Introduction to the Senses and The Sensory Nervous System .Introduction to the Senses, concentrates on observations and experiences that raise questions about how the senses work.
The Sensory Nervous System provides an introduction to neuroscience, and in particular to the neuron, this block looks at the way electrical impulses created by external signals of whatever kind are transmitted to the brain, where they are processed and give rise to our personal picture of the world. It introduces the technique of functional imaging, now an essential tool for examining brain activity related to each of the senses.
Pages: 188
ISBN: 9780749214500
Hearing and Balance - SD329/BLK3
This block explores the nature and properties of sound waves; the anatomy of the ear; and the specialised functions of the outer, middle and inner ear. It goes on to examine the mechanism of transduction (how hair cells convert the minute mechanical impulses brought about by sound waves into electrical signals); auditory perception, including both speech and music; and hearing defects and remedies. Finally, it describes the role of the semicircular canals in determining our sense of balance.
Pages: 108
ISBN: 9781848730090
Vision - SD329/BLK4
Of all the senses the most is know about vision but vision is also the most complex of all the senses. This block covers the nature and properties of light; the electromagnetic spectrum; the optical system of the eye; the retina; visual acuity; visual defects and remedies; colour vision; processing in the visual cortex; visual perception; stereoscopy; and functional imaging in vision.
Pages: 124
ISBN: 9780749235772
Touch and Pain, Smell and Taste and Integrating the Senses - SD329/BLK5/6/7
This block is split into three sections; Touch and Pain, Smell and Taste and Integrating the Senses.Touch and Pain
This section describes the somatic sensory system. This includes at least four senses: touch, pain, temperature and proprioception (the sense of position and movement). It looks at both the body’s own mechanism of pain control and the use of drugs for pain relief.
Smell and Taste
These two senses are closely interlinked, and both involve the interaction of molecules, rather than energy as is the case with the other senses. For that reason they are often referred to as the chemical senses. Topics covered in this section include the molecular characteristics of substances that we smell or taste; the coding of smell and taste; the nature of the receptors involved; the mechanism of transduction; and the role of human pheromones in sexual attraction.
Integrating the Senses
This section brings the various senses together to examine how they interrelate, and how signals affecting one sense can conflict with those stimulating another sense. This can sometimes be simply uncomfortable (e.g. a feeling of nausea) or potentially dangerous (e.g. if it happens to aircraft pilots). The block looks at how perception can be manipulated in virtual reality and hypnosis.
Pages: 204
ISBN: 9780749235789
Signals and Perceptions: The Fundamentals of Human Sensation - SD329/CP1
Presenting the latest advances in the science of the senses, Signals and Perception provides a coherent survey of our current understanding of how we interact with the environment via our senses. Offering a unified treatment of the senses - hearing and balance, vision, touch and pain, smell and taste - and assuming little prior knowledge of the field, the text is ideal for students on a wide variety of courses, in psychology, biology and neuroscience.
Publication Year: 2002
Pages: 320
ISBN: 9780333993644
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Sense of Hearing: Cochlear Implants - SD329/VC1311New developments in cochlear implants have been made possible by recent advances in our understanding of how a normal healthy ear decodes the information contained in a sound signal. This video follows the progress of research to improve these implants and in so doing takes a fascinating journey into the neurophysiological processes of hearing.
Publication Year: 2002
Length: 30mins
ISBN: 9780749224691
Sense of Vision: Seeing Colours, Sense of Proprioception: The Man Who Lost his Body, Sense of Smell: Odour and Behaviour - SD329/VC1312
This compilation video associated with SD329 Signals and Perception: the science of the senses covers the senses of vision, proprioception, and smell. Using graphics and a series of interviews with well-known researchers, the programmes explain how the signals are processed and explore some current issues relating to these senses.
Band 1 Sense of Vision: seeing colours
This band explains why some individuals have colour deficiencies, and investigates how and why certain women can be tetrachromats.
Band 2 Sense of Proprioception: the man who lost his body
This programme tells the amazing story of Ian Waterman, who lost the sense of position and motion known as proprioception and shows his personal fight to gain some mobility back.
Band 3 Sense of Smell: odour and behaviour
This video explores our understanding of the olfactory system and our sense of smell, examining current issues relating to the way in which the nose detects thousands of odours and converts this information into a signal that is sent the brain.
Publication Year: 2002
Length: 120mins
ISBN: 9780749224707
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