Neural Basis of Vision

This subject has the following teaching availabilities in 2012:

Students may only gain credit for one of

• NEUR30001 Neural Basis of Vision
• 655-028 Foundations of Visual Neuroscience (prior to 2006).

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.

This subject requires all students to actively and safely participate in laboratory activities.

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.

This subject is only available to students enrolled in the Bachelor of Optometry. Enrolment into this subject is only by invitation of the Head of Department.

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.

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%).

• E R Kandel, J H Schwartz, T M Jessell, Principles of Neural Science 3rd Ed, Appleton and Lange, 1991 (or later edition)

• J G Nicholls, A R Martin, B G Wallace & P A Fuchs, From Neuron to Brain, Sinauer Associates

This subject is not available as a breadth subject.

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.

This subject is only available to students enrolled in the Bachelor of Optometry.

Enrolment into this subject is only by invitation of the Head of Department.

Previously known as 655-328 Visual Neuroscience (prior to 2009).