Unit information: Sensational Neuroscience in 2012/13

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Unit name Sensational Neuroscience
Unit code PHPH30018
Credit points 20
Level of study H/6
Teaching block(s) Teaching Block 1 (weeks 1 - 12)
Unit director Dr. Brennan
Open unit status Not open
Pre-requisites

PHYY20100 Physiology 2: From genes to whole body in health and disease
Co-requisites

Concepts and Skills Research Project or Grant Proposal
School/department School of Physiology, Pharmacology & Neuroscience
Faculty Faculty of Health and Life Sciences

Description including Unit Aims

Students will study advanced topics in sensory neuroscience through a series of seminars. Examples of the topics covered include the senses of taste, smell and hearing, and associated disorders. The unit aims to develop an understanding of key concepts in current sensory neuroscience including:

  • Physiological and molecular genetic techniques for investigating sensory systems
  • Sensory transduction mechanisms
  • The coding of sensory information
  • Sensory disorders and sensory dysfunction

Students will be expected to compare and contrast across these sensory systems

Intended Learning Outcomes

  • An in-depth knowledge and critical understanding of selected aspects of sensory neuroscience, with an ability to keep up-to-date with recent developments in the field.
  • The ability to gather information from the primary scientific literature and to critically evaluate the material and appraise competing theories.
  • An understanding of the experimental tools used to study sensory systems.

Teaching Information

Seminars

Assessment Information

The unit will be assessed through one 3-hour summative examination in May/June, which consists of two sections. In section A (50%), students will be expected to answer one essay question from a choice of 3, which will assess their knowledge and critical understanding of the field, and their ability to gather information from the primary scientific literature. In section B (50%), students will be expected to answer one multi-part compulsory question requiring data handling/data interpretation and experimental design.

Reading and References

Reviews and key references from the current scientific literature

Related links