512-340 Vision and Action 3

Note

Credit Points

Coordinator

Prerequisites

512-222 (or equivalent)

Semester

Contact

Subject Description

This subject comprises completing two of three units:

Selective Attention, Object Recognition and Action

Centres on three broad areas of investigation by psychologists: selective attention; object recognition; and motor control. In the first part of the unit a critical examination will be made of how perception and action systems evolve together to enable successful interactions with the environment. The second part of the unit examines the impact of damage to the diverse cortical and subcortical regions within the brain. This part will cover topics such as neglect, visual agnosia, simultagnosia and Parkinson's disease.

Visual Perception

The half-dozen or so major theoretical approaches to the problem of explaining vision will be critically examined by students. A particular emphasis will be given to the theoretical approach of David Marr and his co-workers.

Motor Behaviour and Skill

Examines a range of types of human motor control and skilled behaviour, using (neuro)physiological, cognitive, perceptual, dynamical and connectionist perspectives. These perspectives are invoked in the study of locomotion, handedness, tracking, response selection, coordination, keyboarding, speech, and expert performance. Developmental issues, motor memory, theories of attention, practice methods, skill acquisition, error correction, and selected motor pathologies are also treated.

Assessment

A combination of laboratory reports and examinations, with the reports being weighted at least 40% of the total assessment.