units

PHY3111

Faculty of Science

18 September 2017 20 April 2024

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This unit entry is for students who completed this unit in 2016 only. For students planning to study the unit, please refer to the unit indexes in the the current edition of the Handbook. If you have any queries contact the managing faculty for your course or area of study.

Monash University

6 points, SCA Band 2, 0.125 EFTSL

Undergraduate - Unit

Refer to the specific census and withdrawal dates for the semester(s) in which this unit is offered.

Faculty

Science

Coordinator(s)

Professor Marcello Rosa and Dr Leo Lui

Offered

Clayton

  • First semester 2016 (Day)

Synopsis

Explores cutting-edge research in brain function in sensation and movement in humans. The emphasis will be on the way the brain functions normally to analyse sensory information and to evoke movement, and how brain damage leads to clinical dysfunction of sensation or movement. Details current research ideas on normal function and dysfunction in this area, and new methodologies. Emphasis is on assisted self directed learning and project based learning.

Outcomes

On completion of this unit students will be able to:

  1. Describe how sensory information is signalled by neurons from peripheral receptor organs to the brain areas processing sensory input;

  1. Give examples of the strategies used by the brain to process different types of sensory stimuli;

  1. Explain how the control of actions and perceptions is changed according to the context in which sensory information is presented;

  1. Evaluate how damage to the nervous system might alter sensory functions and the associated behaviours;

  1. Describe how neuroscience imaging techniques (e.g. electrophysiological recordings) help scientists to understand the structure and function of the central nervous system;

  1. Critically evaluate the scientific literature and write a scientific report.

Assessment

In-semester assessment: four practical class reports (40%) and a mid-semester test (20%)
End of semester written theory examination (2 hours): 40%

Workload requirements

Two 1-hour lectures and one 3-hour practical per week.

See also Unit timetable information

Chief examiner(s)

Professor Marcello Rosa

This unit applies to the following area(s) of study

Physiology

Prerequisites

PHY2011 plus one of PHY2042 or PHY2032; or BMS1052 plus one of BMS2031, BND2011 or BNS1072; or permission from the unit co-ordinator.