655-028 Foundations of Visual Neuroscience

BOptom students: successful completion of all first-year level subjects plus 655-221.

Other students: 655-222.

This subject aims to provide students with a sound neuroanatomical and neurophysiological knowledge base upon which they can understand the structure-function relationships underlying sensory information processing. Although particular emphasis will be given to the elements and processing subserving vision, other sensory modalities such as audition and balance are covered to highlight the similarities and contrast the specialisations among different sensory systems. The foundations begin with an overview of the molecular and cellular mechanisms that allow signal transmission among neurones, and lead to the concept of neural assemblies being built up from cellular building blocks that give rise to the current 'systems approach' to neuroscience. At the end of the course, students should understand the information pathways from sensory end-organs, through the thalamus to specialised cortical targets. In particular the functional organisation of the primary and extrastriate visual cortex will be extensively covered, including feedback systems allowing reflexive binocular visuo-motor control of eye movements. The natural and abnormal development of the retino-striate pathways will also be covered in detail.

Through the lecture series and integrated tutorials, students should apply this fundamental knowledge towards and understanding of the specific deficits underpinning neurological abnormalities and disease processes in the clinical arena. This should also prepare them to engage in the future developments of neuroscience in a laboratory setting.

A 3-hour end of semester written examination (70%); continuous assessment comprising a ten-minute multimedia based quiz during each tutorial session (30%).

• E R Kandel, J H Schwartz, T M Jessell, Principles of Neural Science. 3rd edn, Appleton and Lange 1991.