The Visual Brain: Evolution, Development, Learning & Adaptation
| Code | School | Level | Credits | Semesters |
| PSGY3021 | Psychology | 3 | 10 | Spring UK |
- Code
- PSGY3021
- School
- Psychology
- Level
- 3
- Credits
- 10
- Semesters
- Spring UK
Summary
The central theme of this module is to explore how the architecture and function of the visual brain has been designed and shaped by experiences over a range of timescales. The innate properties of the eye and visual brain that are present at birth have been designed over millions of years of evolution. The brain continues to physically change it structure and function within a lifetime ' a property termed 'brain plasticity'. Over the years of development, brain plasticity is the driving force for the maturation of different visual brain functions. Even well into adulthood, plasticity is retained in the form of learning, which can optimise performance for certain visual tasks and be exploited for therapeutic uses. Another prominent form of plasticity in the visual brain is that caused by adaptation ' effects of visual experience over the preceding tens of milliseconds to minutes. The module will examine the consequences of evolution, development, learning and adaptation for visual brain function and perception.
Target Students
Psychology, Psychology and Cognitive Neuroscience and Natural Science students (depending on pathway).
Assessment
- 50% Exam 2 (1-hour): Moodle Remote Essay
- 50% Exam 1 (1-hour): In person ExamSys consisting of 60 multiple choice questions. This would be split equally across all of the lectures.
Assessed by end of spring semester
Educational Aims
The aim of this module is to provide an understanding of how visual experiences at different timescales shapes the structure and function of the visual brain.Learning Outcomes
1. Understand the different theories used to explain the evolution of brain size
2. Understand the role of visual specialisation in brain evolution
3. Compare how different species have adapted their visual brains to accommodate environmental constraints.
4. Understand the role of critical periods in normal and abnormal development of the visual brain.
5. Critically appraise the role of visual brain mechanisms in developmental disorders, such as dyslexia, autism and amblyopia (‘lazy eye’).
6. Understand the mechanisms by which the visual brain learns to improve its performance in the environment.
7. Critically appraise the use of learning as a therapeutic tool for treating visual brain disorders.
8. Critically evaluate neural theories of perceptual learning
9. Understand the mechanisms by which the brain adapts to recent changes in visual input
10. Evaluate current theories concerning the functional role of adaptation and its relationship to other visual brain processes.