| CODE | CGS5000 | ||||||||
| TITLE | Perception, Action and Attention | ||||||||
| UM LEVEL | 05 - Postgraduate Modular Diploma or Degree Course | ||||||||
| MQF LEVEL | 7 | ||||||||
| ECTS CREDITS | 5 | ||||||||
| DEPARTMENT | Cognitive Science | ||||||||
| DESCRIPTION | This study-unit will begin with an overview of human sensory apparatus, emphasizing local specialization and common neural implementation. Text book reading and lecture material will be used provide this overview. Two areas of specialization, visual perception and attention, will then be addressed in detail. A combination of textbook and key readings will be used in support. The main assignment will involve conducting an experiment, collecting and reporting data. Topics covered will include, Introduction to Sensation & Perception; Cross-modal Perception; Introducing Vision; Object Recognition; Face Perception; Faces, Bodies & Biological Motion; How action constrains perception; Introduction to Attention; Selective Attention; Divided Attention; Cross-modal Attention. Study-unit Aims: The study-unit aims to enable students to identify and describe the main human sensory systems, with a particular emphasis on vision. It will also introduce the concept of attention, and how this helps constrain perception and cognition. Through the main assignment, it will also provide the practical skills necessary to run simple experiments within these domains and the analytical skills needed to interpret the results. Group work will be used to introduce the practical aspects of conducting experiments, while data analysis and project reports will be the outcome of individual work. Learning Outcomes: 1. Knowledge & Understanding: By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: - identify and differentiate the major human sensory systems, indicating aspects that are shared and unique; - demonstrate critical thinking during a written assignment by evaluating the strengths and weakness of the main approaches to the study of the main approaches to relevant topics; - describe as part of a written assignment, the current understanding of a specific research area within the perception/attention literature. 2. Skills: By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: - conduct a simple experiment using appropriate hardware and software; - analyze experimental data and provide a written interpretation of the results; - critically evaluate possible limitations of a given experiment and suggest design modifications; - produce a research report in the format applicable to a standard journal paper. Main Text/s and any supplementary readings: Mather, George. Foundations of Perception. (2nd Edition) 2008. Psychology Press. |
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| STUDY-UNIT TYPE | Lecture and Tutorial | ||||||||
| METHOD OF ASSESSMENT |
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| LECTURER/S | Ian M Thornton |
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The University makes every effort to ensure that the published Courses Plans, Programmes of Study and Study-Unit information are complete and up-to-date at the time of publication. The University reserves the right to make changes in case errors are detected after publication.
The availability of optional units may be subject to timetabling constraints. Units not attracting a sufficient number of registrations may be withdrawn without notice. It should be noted that all the information in the description above applies to study-units available during the academic year 2023/4. It may be subject to change in subsequent years. |
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