OVERVIEW

The course, compulsory for all curricula, provides a coherent, up-to-date introduction to the basic facts and theories concerning (human) sensory perception. The physical and physiological aspects of each sensory modality are considered before its perceptual characteristics. Emphasis is placed on how perceptual experience relates to the physical properties of the world and to physiological constraints in the brain.

AIMS AND CONTENT

LEARNING OUTCOMES

A consistent and up-to-date introduction to basic facts and theories regarding human sensory perception. The teaching covers the physical and physiological aspects of each sensory modality and its perceptual characteristics. Emphasis is given on how perceptual experience relates to the physical properties of the external world, the characteristics of sensory signals, and the architectural principles of the nervous system.

AIMS AND LEARNING OUTCOMES

The course aims to:

•      Provide elements on the physical and physiological basis of perception (with particular attention to the visual, auditory and somatosensory system). Sensory processes to support the control of action and behavior will be privileged.
•      Provide the student with some theoretical and practical tools to experiment with the study of perceptual processes.
•      Provide elements for the design of algorithms, techniques and systems to measure or influence human perception and behavior.

At the end of the course, the student will have achieved some understanding of the physical stimuli relevant to the considered sensory modalities, and a basic grasp of the underlying sensory physiology. He will also be able to design a simple psychophysical experiment and to model the receptive fields of the primary sensory areas.

PREREQUISITES

Linear algebra and analytical geometry in space.

Elements of signal processing.

TEACHING METHODS

Traditional lectures and guided practical classes on pyshophysics (48h). An 8h supplementary course on "Mechanisms of multisensory integration in health and disability" is also foreseen.

Working students and students with certification of DSA, disability or other special educational needs are advised to contact the teacher at the beginning of the course to agree on teaching and exam methods which, in compliance with the teaching objectives, take into account individual learning methods.

SYLLABUS/CONTENT

Part I – Neurophysiological basis of perception

• Transduction principles, perception-action cycles.
• Functional characterization of the main perceptual systems (visual system, auditory system, somesthetic systems).

Part II – Techniques for the analysis and interpretation of data

• Foundations of psychophysical techniques.
• Qualification of perceptual features.
• Representation and analysis of multidimensional signals.

Part III – Interactive and enactive paradigms

• Introduction to ecological perception (Gibson’s direct perception & sensorimotor theory).
• Linking images to 3D scene properties (image formation, projective geometry, pinhole camera, homogeneous coordinates).
• Scene reconstruction (stereoscopic geometry, parallel and vergent optical axes, geometry of the motion field).

Supplementary course (dr. Monica Gori, 8h): Mechanisms of multisensory integration in health and disability.

RECOMMENDED READING/BIBLIOGRAPHY

Slides and other distributed material (available through Aulaweb).

Recommended textbook:  G. Mather.  “Foundations of sensation and perception” (2nd edition) Psychology Press  2009

TEACHERS AND EXAM BOARD

Exam Board

SILVIO PAOLO SABATINI (President)

FRANCESCA PEVERI

ANDREA CANESSA (President Substitute)

MONICA GORI (Substitute)

LESSONS

LESSONS START

https://corsi.unige.it/11159/p/studenti-orario

EXAMS

EXAM DESCRIPTION

Oral exam (max score 27/30) and evaluation of Psychophysics practical (max score 3/30). 

Oral exam consists of two short-answer questions followed by two in-depth questions.

Psychophysics practical  consists of two guided assignments:

• Level 1 (a total score of 1/30 is gained when the code works and the data were collected and analyzed, 0 otherwise).
• Level 2 (a total score of 1/30 is gained if the code is complete and syntactically correct, a total score of 2/30 is gained if the code is complete and syntactically correct, and the data were collected and plotted).

Level 2 can be tackled after completion of the first level’s objectives (i.e., delivery and evaluation of Level 1 assignment).

Final delivery deadline: last day of the semenster.

Note: Psychophysics practical is part of the oral exams program with sample checking of the knowledge of the developed code.

The student who fails or withdraws from the exam cannot retake the exam on the immediately subsequent round.

Students can refuse the score just once, but in that case they will be allowed to retake the exam on any of the subsequent exam dates, without jumps.

ASSESSMENT METHODS

The student should eventually demonstrate:

• Basic knowledge of biology, anatomy and physiology of neurosensorial systems.
• Capacity of distinguishing and analysing the correlations among perceptual sensations, characteristics of the sensory signals, and biological structure.
• Mastery of methods, techniques and instruments to experimentally characterize perceptual phemomenology.
• Experience of possible application domains.

The oral exam is aimed at (1) verifying the acquisition of the concepts presented in the course, and (2) evaluating the ability of analysis and modeling on specific problems.

In general, in addition to the correctness and completeness of the answer, the evaluation criteria comprise: the relevance to the question, the clarity of the answer, and the ability to synthesise.

Exam schedule