Neural Basis of Vision

Subject 655-328 (2009)

Note: This is an archived Handbook entry from 2009. Search for this in the current handbook

Credit Points: 12.50
Level: 3 (Undergraduate)
Dates & Locations:

This subject has the following teaching availabilities in 2009:

Semester 1, - Taught on campus.
Pre-teaching Period Start not applicable
Teaching Period not applicable
Assessment Period End not applicable
Last date to Self-Enrol not applicable
Census Date not applicable
Last date to Withdraw without fail not applicable

Lectures and practicals/tutorials.

Timetable can be viewed here. For information about these dates, click here.
Time Commitment: Contact Hours: 24 lectures (two 1-hour lectures per week) plus six 3-hour practicals/tutorials
Total Time Commitment: 120 hours total time commitment.
Prerequisites:

Optometry 655-221 and 655-222.
Corequisites: None
Recommended Background Knowledge: None
Non Allowed Subjects: Students may only gain credit for one of 655-328 or 655-028 (prior to 2006).
Core Participation Requirements: It is University policy to take all reasonable steps to minimise the impact of disability upon academic study and reasonable steps will be made to enhance a student’s participation in the University’s programs. Students who feel their disability may impact upon their active and safe participation in a subject are encouraged to discuss this with the relevant subject coordinator and the Disability Liaison Unit.

Coordinator

Prof Sagar Vidyasagar
Subject Overview:

This subject aims to provide students with a very sound neuroanatomical and neurophysiological knowledge base which will help them understand the structure-function relationships underlying sensory information processing with particular emphasis on the visual system.

The series of lectures begins with a brief revision of the molecular and cellular mechanisms that allow signal transmission among neurones and then leads the student to an understanding of the neural mechanisms that underlie integrative processes of the brain ("systems neuroscience"), with particular reference to the visual system. The student will gain a detailed understanding of how visual information is first coded by anatomically distinct types of cells that carry functionally different types of information from the retina, and how later at further stages of the visual pathways, a meaningful integration of these inputs is enabled. The lectures will include a detailed account of the functional architecture of the visual cortex and neural mechanisms of visual attention, as well as an account of how our sense of balance and visual functions are related. The natural and abnormal development of the retino-striate pathways together with neural plasticity, both at molecular and systems levels, will also be covered in detail. The lectures will also show examples of how discoveries of basic neural mechanisms help in understanding of symptoms in neurological diseases and of some unusual perceptual phenomena. The subject should also prepare the student to engage in future developments of neuroscience in a laboratory or industry setting.
Objectives: .
Assessment:

Ongoing assessment of practical work during the semester (10%); two 30-minute written examinations held during semester (10%); a 3-hour written examination in the examination period (80%).
Prescribed Texts: E R Kandel, J H Schwartz, T M Jessell, Principles of Neural Science 3rd edn, Appleton and Lange, 1991 (or later edition)
Breadth Options:

This subject potentially can be taken as a breadth subject component for the following courses:

You should visit learn more about breadth subjects and read the breadth requirements for your degree, and should discuss your choice with your student adviser, before deciding on your subjects.

Fees Information: Subject EFTSL, Level, Discipline & Census Date
Generic Skills:

Upon completion of this subject students should:

  • Develop the capacity for critical evaluation of complex issues;

  • Develop problem-solving and communication skills; and

  • Improve the capacity for seeking and evaluating relevant information.
Notes:

Students enrolled in the BSc (pre-2008 BSc), BASc or a combined BSc course will receive science credit for the completion of this subject.

Neural Basis of Vision was 655-328 Visual Neuroscience prior to 2009.

Related Course(s): Bachelor of Optometry
Related Majors/Minors/Specialisations: Vision Science

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