Auditory and Visual Processing

This subject is not offered in 2013.

120 hours

Enrolment in a research higher degree(Masters or PhD) in Engineering

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For the purposes of considering request for Reasonable Adjustments under the Disability Standards for Education (Cwth 2005), and Student Support and Engagement Policy, academic requirements for this subject are articulated in the Subject Overview, Learning Outcomes, Assessment and Generic Skills sections of this entry.

It is University policy to take all reasonable steps to minimise the impact of disability upon academic study, and reasonable adjustments will be made to enhance a student's participation in the University's programs. Students who feel their disability may impact on meeting the requirements of this subject are encouraged to discuss this matter with a Faculty Student Adviser and Student Equity and Disability Support: http://services.unimelb.edu.au/disability

This subject introduces students to auditory processing and auditory prostheses available for treating auditory impairment, and to visual processing and visual prostheses available for treating vision impairment. Topics covered in auditory processing and prostheses include: acoustics and auditory stimuli, auditory pathway, neural coding of sound, auditory psychophysics, hearing loss and auditory impairment, cochlear implants (the Bionic Ear) and cochlear implant stimulation strategies. Topics covered in visual processing and prostheses include: the retina, the visual pathway, vision psychophysics, visual prostheses, prosthetic vision and retinal implant stimulation strategies.

On completing this subject the student should be able to:

• describe the processing of sound carried out in the auditory pathway
• measure the behaviour of the human auditory system using psychophysical procedures
• interpret the results of the principal measures of auditory impairment
• identify the type of neural prosthesis appropriate for specific types of hearing impairment
• describe the principal signal processing techniques used with cochlear implants
• identify the factors that determine the effectiveness of a cochlear implant for a particular patient
• describe the processing of vision carried out in the visual pathway
• measure the behaviour of the human visual system using psychophysical procedures
• interpret the results of the principal measures of visual impairment
• identify the type of neural prosthesis appropriate for specific types of vision impairment
• describe the principal signal processing techniques used with retinal implants
• identify the factors that determine the effectiveness of a vision implant for a particular patient

• A lecture of up to one hour, including question time, on a journal paper during the semester (25%);
• A written report of up to 3000 words on the journal paper that was presented as a lecture during the semester (25%);
• Five critiques of up to 750 words each of lectures presented by other students during the semester (10% each).

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This subject is not available as a breadth subject.

• In-depth technical competence in at least one engineering discipline
• Ability to undertake problem identification, formulation and solution
• Understanding of the social, cultural, global and environmental responsibilities of the professional engineer, and the need for sustainable development
• Capacity for independent critical thought, rational inquiry and self-directed learning
• Intellectual curiosity and creativity, including understanding of the philosophical and methodological bases of research activity
• Openness to new ideas and unconventional critiques of received wisdom