Wilson S Geisler III

Theory and research in the ways we extract information from the environment. Three lecture hourse a week for one semester. Prerequisite: For psychology majors, upper-division standing and Psychology 301 and 418 with a grade of at least C in each; for nonmajors, upper-division standing, Psychology 301 with a grade of at least C, and one of the following with a grade of at least C: BIO 318M, Civil Engineering 311S, Economics 329, Educational Psychology 371, Electrical Engineering 351K, Government 350K, Mathematics 316, 362K, Mechanical Engineering 335, Psychology 317, Sociology 317L, Social Work 318, Statistics 309, Statistics and Scientific Computation 302, 303, 304, 305, 306, 318.

Seminars in Cognitive or Perceptual Systems. Three lecture hours a week for one semester. May be repeated for credit when the topics vary. Prerequisite: Graduate standing and consent of instructor.

Theory and research in the ways we extract information from the environment. Three lecture hourse a week for one semester. Prerequisite: For psychology majors, upper-division standing and Psychology 301 and 418 with a grade of at least C in each; for nonmajors, upper-division standing, Psychology 301 with a grade of at least C, and one of the following with a grade of at least C: BIO 318M, Civil Engineering 311S, Economics 329, Educational Psychology 371, Electrical Engineering 351K, Government 350K, Mathematics 316, 362K, Mechanical Engineering 335, Psychology 317, Sociology 317L, Social Work 318, Statistics 309, Statistics and Scientific Computation 302, 303, 304, 305, 306, 318.

Seminars in Cognitive or Perceptual Systems. Three lecture hours a week for one semester. May be repeated for credit when the topics vary. Prerequisite: Graduate standing and consent of instructor.

Theory and research in the ways we extract information from the environment. Three lecture hourse a week for one semester. Prerequisite: For psychology majors, upper-division standing and Psychology 301 and 418 with a grade of at least C in each; for nonmajors, upper-division standing, Psychology 301 with a grade of at least C, and one of the following with a grade of at least C: BIO 318M, Civil Engineering 311S, Economics 329, Educational Psychology 371, Electrical Engineering 351K, Government 350K, Mathematics 316, 362K, Mechanical Engineering 335, Psychology 317, Sociology 317L, Social Work 318, Statistics 309, Statistics and Scientific Computation 302, 303, 304, 305, 306, 318.

Seminars in Cognitive or Perceptual Systems. Three lecture hours a week for one semester. May be repeated for credit when the topics vary. Prerequisite: Graduate standing and consent of instructor.

Theory and research in the ways we extract information from the environment. Three lecture hourse a week for one semester. Prerequisite: For psychology majors, upper-division standing and Psychology 301 and 418 with a grade of at least C in each; for nonmajors, upper-division standing, Psychology 301 with a grade of at least C, and one of the following with a grade of at least C: BIO 318M, Civil Engineering 311S, Economics 329, Educational Psychology 371, Electrical Engineering 351K, Government 350K, Mathematics 316, 362K, Mechanical Engineering 335, Psychology 317, Sociology 317L, Social Work 318, Statistics 309, Statistics and Scientific Computation 302, 303, 304, 305, 306, 318.

Seminars in Cognitive or Perceptual Systems. Three lecture hours a week for one semester. May be repeated for credit when the topics vary. Prerequisite: Graduate standing and consent of instructor.

Seminars in Cognitive or Perceptual Systems. Three lecture hours a week for one semester. May be repeated for credit when the topics vary. Prerequisite: Graduate standing and consent of instructor.

Theory and research in the ways we extract information from the environment. Three lecture hourse a week for one semester. Prerequisite: For psychology majors, upper-division standing and Psychology 301 and 418 with a grade of at least C in each; for nonmajors, upper-division standing, Psychology 301 with a grade of at least C, and one of the following with a grade of at least C: BIO 318M, Civil Engineering 311S, Economics 329, Educational Psychology 371, Electrical Engineering 351K, Government 350K, Mathematics 316, 362K, Mechanical Engineering 335, Psychology 317, Sociology 317L, Social Work 318, Statistics 309, Statistics and Scientific Computation 302, 303, 304, 305, 306, 318.

Seminars in Cognitive or Perceptual Systems. Three lecture hours a week for one semester. May be repeated for credit when the topics vary. Prerequisite: Graduate standing and consent of instructor.

Theory and research in the ways we extract information from the environment. Three lecture hourse a week for one semester. Prerequisite: For psychology majors, upper-division standing and Psychology 301 and 418 with a grade of at least C in each; for nonmajors, upper-division standing, Psychology 301 with a grade of at least C, and one of the following with a grade of at least C: BIO 318M, Civil Engineering 311S, Economics 329, Educational Psychology 371, Electrical Engineering 351K, Government 350K, Mathematics 316, 362K, Mechanical Engineering 335, Psychology 317, Sociology 317L, Social Work 318, Statistics 309, Statistics and Scientific Computation 302, 303, 304, 305, 306, 318.

Seminars in Cognitive or Perceptual Systems. Three lecture hours a week for one semester. May be repeated for credit when the topics vary. Prerequisite: Graduate standing and consent of instructor.

Theory and research in the ways we extract information from the environment. Three lecture hourse a week for one semester. Prerequisite: For psychology majors, upper-division standing and Psychology 301 and 418 with a grade of at least C in each; for nonmajors, upper-division standing, Psychology 301 with a grade of at least C, and one of the following with a grade of at least C: BIO 318M, Civil Engineering 311S, Economics 329, Educational Psychology 371, Electrical Engineering 351K, Government 350K, Mathematics 316, 362K, Mechanical Engineering 335, Psychology 317, Sociology 317L, Social Work 318, Statistics 309, Statistics and Scientific Computation 302, 303, 304, 305, 306, 318.

Seminars in Cognitive or Perceptual Systems. Three lecture hours a week for one semester. May be repeated for credit when the topics vary. Prerequisite: Graduate standing and consent of instructor.

The perceptual systems (vision, hearing, touch, smell, and so on) are the brain’s window on the world. This lecture course presents an introduction to perceptual systems with an emphasis on perception in humans and non-human primates. In this course, students will learn about the physics of perceptual stimuli, the neural processing of perceptual information, the performance of humans (and other primates) in perceptual tasks, and the evolution of perceptual systems.

Seminars in Cognitive or Perceptual Systems. Three lecture hours a week for one semester. May be repeated for credit when the topics vary. Prerequisite: Graduate standing and consent of instructor.

Introduction to the anatomy, physiology, and psychophysics of human vision from an information-processing and computational perspective. Three lecture hours a week for one semester. Neuroscience 380E and Psychology 380E may not both be counted. Prerequisite: Graduate standing and consent of instructor.

 Content:

The perceptual systems (vision, hearing, touch, smell, and so on) are the brain?s window on the world.

This lecture course presents an introduction to perceptual systems with an emphasis on perception in

humans and non-human primates. In this course, students will learn about the physics of perceptual

stimuli, the neural processing of perceptual information, the performance of humans (and other primates)

in perceptual tasks, and the evolution of perceptual systems.

 Grades:

Two one-hour exams and a comprehensive final will be given in this course. Exams will be a mixture of

multiple choice and short answer questions. The one-hour exams will each be worth 30% and the final

exam 40% of the grade. The exams and finals may include some questions based upon lecture material

not covered (or not covered extensively) in the readings.

Seminars in Cognitive and Perceptual Systems. Three lecture hours a week for one semester. May be repeated for credit when the topics vary. Prerequisite: Graduate standing and consent of instructor.

Introduction to the anatomy, physiology, and psychophysics of human vision from an information-processing and computational perspective. Three lecture hours a week for one semester. Neuroscience 380E and Psychology 380E may not both be counted. Prerequisite: Graduate standing and consent of instructor.

Perception (PSY 323) 43855
Spring 2010, TTH 12:30-2:00, NOA 1.124
 
Instructor:   Wilson S. Geisler   
Office:   SEA 4.328 (phone: 471-5380, email: geisler@psy.utexas.edu)
Office hours:  T TH immediately after class
TA: Llewyn Paine (email: llpaine@mail.utexas.edu)
Office: SEA 5.118
Office hours: MWF 1:00-2:00
 
Content:
The perceptual systems (vision, hearing, touch, smell, and so on) are the brain’s window on the world. 
This lecture course presents an introduction to perceptual systems with an emphasis on perception in
humans and non-human primates.  In this course, students will learn about the physics of perceptual
stimuli, the neural processing of perceptual information, the performance of humans (and other primates)
in perceptual tasks, and the evolution of perceptual systems.
 
Grades: 
Two one-hour exams and a comprehensive final will be given in this course.  Exams will be a mixture of
multiple choice and short answer questions.  The one-hour exams will each be worth 30% and the final
exam 40% of the grade.  The exams and finals may include some questions based upon lecture material
not covered (or not covered extensively) in the readings.
 
Textbook and readings:
Blake, R. and Sekuler, R. (2006) Perception (5th Edition), New York:  McGraw-Hill.
 
Other course materials will be available at the website:  http://homepage.psy.utexas.edu. To get these
materials go to “Classes” at this site and then go to “323”.  Let me know if you have any trouble.
 
More about the instructor and perception research on campus see: www.cps.utexas.edu/ 
 
The University of Texas at Austin provides upon request appropriate academic accommodations for
qualified students with disabilities.  For more information, contact the Office of the Dean of Students at
471-6259, 471-4641 TTY.
 
The Psychology Department will drop all students who do not meet the following prerequisites:
(a) PSY 301 with a C or better
(b) PSY 418 (or an equivalent listed in the course schedule) with a C or better
(c) Upper-Division standing (60 hours completed)
 
Tentative schedule of lectures:
Date Topic      Reading
 
1/19 Introduction     S&B 1
 
1/21 Approaches and methods   S&B 1, Appendix
 
1/26 No class (AIC)     S&B 1
 
1/28 Sound, acoustics    S&B 10
 
2/2 The ear      S&B 10
 
2/4 Auditory pathways    S&B 10
 
2/9 Sensitivity and masking     S&B 11, Appendix
 
2/11 Loudness and pitch perception   S&B 11
 
2/16 Sound localization and grouping   S&B 11
 
2/18 Speech perception    S&B 11     
 
2/23 Light and the eye    S&B 2
 
2/25 The photoreceptors    S&B 2
 
3/2 FIRST EXAM
 
3/4 The retina     S&B 3
 
3/9 Vision and the retina    S&B 3
 
3/11 Central visual pathways    S&B 4
 
3/16 Spring Break
 
3/18 Spring Break
 
3/23 Central visual pathways    S&B 4
 
3/25 Spatial vision and form perception  S&B 5
 
3/30 Spatial vision and form perception  S&B 5
 
4/1 Eye movements     S&B 2 (p. 34-40), 9 (p. 327-333)  
 
4/6 Object perception (USC; guest)   S&B 6 (p. 193-214)
                                     
4/8 Color perception    S&B 7
 
4/13 Color perception    S&B 7
 
4/15 Depth perception    S&B 8
 
4/20 Depth and motion perception    S&B 8, 9
 
4/22 Motion and event perception   S&B 9
 
4/27 SECOND EXAM (NAS; LP)    
 
4/29 Visual attention     S&B 6 (p. 215-231)
 
5/4 Evolution of perceptual systems   
 
5/6 Review for final
 
5/12 FINAL EXAM (2:00-5:00)
 
 

Seminars in Cognitive and Perceptual Systems. Three lecture hours a week for one semester. May be repeated for credit when the topics vary. Prerequisite: Graduate standing and consent of instructor.

Introduction to the anatomy, physiology, and psychophysics of human vision from an information-processing and computational perspective. Three lecture hours a week for one semester. Neuroscience 380E and Psychology 380E may not both be counted. Prerequisite: Graduate standing and consent of instructor.

An introduction to perceptual systems, with an emphasis on percetion in human and nonhuman primates. Topics include the physics of perceptual stimuli, the neural processing of perceptual information, the performance of human and other primates in perceptual tasks, and the evolution of perceptual systems.  Three lecture hours a week for one semester. PSY 323P and 341K (Topic: Perceptual Systems: Neurons/Behavior/Evolution) may not both be counted. Mathematics 316, Psychology 317, Sociology 317L, Social Work 318311S, Economics 329, Educational Psychology 371, Government 350K,following with a grade of at least C: Biology 318M, Civil Engineeringstanding, Psychology 301 with a grade of at least C, and one of the418 with a grade of at least C in each; for nonmajors, upper-divisionFor psychology majors, upper-division standing and Psychology 301 andPrerequisite: Statistics 309

Seminars in Cognitive or Perceptual Systems. Three lecture hours a week for one semester. May be repeated for credit when the topics vary. Prerequisite: Graduate standing and consent of instructor.

Seminars in Cognitive or Perceptual Systems. Three lecture hours a week for one semester. May be repeated for credit when the topics vary. Prerequisite: Graduate standing and consent of instructor.

Theory and research in the ways we extract information from the environment. Three lecture hourse a week for one semester. Prerequisite: For psychology majors, upper-division standing and Psychology 301 and 418 with a grade of at least C in each; for nonmajors, upper-division standing, Psychology 301 with a grade of at least C, and one of the following with a grade of at least C: BIO 318M, Civil Engineering 311S, Economics 329, Educational Psychology 371, Electrical Engineering 351K, Government 350K, Mathematics 316, 362K, Mechanical Engineering 335, Psychology 317, Sociology 317L, Social Work 318, Statistics 309, Statistics and Scientific Computation 302, 303, 304, 305, 306, 318.

This lecture course is designed to provide students with an understanding of the process of braindevelopment from embryogenesis through adulthood with emphasis on the role of the environment in directing this process. Initial lectures will focus on the origins of the central nervous system, including topics such as the organization of the brain, neurogenesis, cellular differentiation, migration and targeting of neurons, synapse formation and refinement of the nervous system. In the second half of the course, lectures will focus on the infant brain and the role of experiences during infancy in modifying brain function. Topics will also include recent advances in our understanding of the role of gene-environment interactions and epigenetic programming and shaping brain development. Finally, the adaptive vs. maladaptive outcomes of environmental modifications to the nervous system will be discussed. Throughout the course, students will be guided through examples of how changes in the developing nervous system lead to behavioral patterns both in infancy and adulthood.

Seminars in Cognitive or Perceptual Systems. Three lecture hours a week for one semester. May be repeated for credit when the topics vary. Prerequisite: Graduate standing and consent of instructor.

Seminars in Cognitive or Perceptual Systems. Three lecture hours a week for one semester. May be repeated for credit when the topics vary. Prerequisite: Graduate standing and consent of instructor.

This lecture course is designed to provide students with an understanding of the process of braindevelopment from embryogenesis through adulthood with emphasis on the role of the environment in directing this process. Initial lectures will focus on the origins of the central nervous system, including topics such as the organization of the brain, neurogenesis, cellular differentiation, migration and targeting of neurons, synapse formation and refinement of the nervous system. In the second half of the course, lectures will focus on the infant brain and the role of experiences during infancy in modifying brain function. Topics will also include recent advances in our understanding of the role of gene-environment interactions and epigenetic programming and shaping brain development. Finally, the adaptive vs. maladaptive outcomes of environmental modifications to the nervous system will be discussed. Throughout the course, students will be guided through examples of how changes in the developing nervous system lead to behavioral patterns both in infancy and adulthood.

Seminars in Cognitive or Perceptual Systems. Three lecture hours a week for one semester. May be repeated for credit when the topics vary. Prerequisite: Graduate standing and consent of instructor.

Seminars in Cognitive or Perceptual Systems. Three lecture hours a week for one semester. May be repeated for credit when the topics vary. Prerequisite: Graduate standing and consent of instructor.