Course content

The course will focus on the cognitive neuroscience of the human visual system based on convergent evidence gathered with a variety of methods, which include neuroimaging (e.g., fMRI), studies of eye movements, single neural cells’ recordings, computational models, effects of localized brain lesions, as well as the study of unusual subject populations (e.g., split-brain patients, synaesthetes) and evidence from studies with non-human primates. These topics will be dealt with from both the angle of normal performance and of pathology. The course will survey interdisciplinary material from evolutionary biology, medicine, psychology, computer science, philosophy, and the visual arts. The lectures will particularly focus on the processes of visual attention, perception (of colors, object forms, and faces), mental imagery, and visual memory, and how the human brain achieves awareness of visual objects.

Learning outcome

The goal of the course is to present knowledge and principles of the functioning of our brains on how we see and understand our visual world.

Admission

Students who are admitted to study programmes at UiO must each semester register which courses and exams they wish to sign up for in Studentweb.

If you are not already enrolled as a student at UiO, please see our information about admission requirements and procedures.

This course is only offered to students who have been admitted to the programme as a whole (2-years). ERASMUS students and students from other master’s programmes at the University of Oslo may be admitted into this course by individual application to the department. The application has to include a confirmation from your department that the course can be a part of your degree.Only students admitted to the course may take part in instruction and tuition and sit for the examination.

Prerequisites

Formal prerequisite knowledge

The course is offered to students on the Master’s Degree Programme in Psychology. Erasmus students and students from other master’s programmes at the University of Oslo may be admitted into this course by individual application to the department. The application has to include a confirmation from your department that the course can be a part of your degree.

Overlapping courses

Teaching

The teaching will be given through seminars and lectures. 20 hours of lectures and 10 hours of seminars. Attendance is compulsory in both seminars and lectures.

The students are required to give a presentation as part of the course. Each student will select one research article (or a few related articles) from