PSYC 309
Sensation & Perception
Fall 2009
last
updated 10/25/09
Section 001: 10:30- 11:45am
Tuesday & Thursday
Instructor: Dr. Matt
Peterson
Office: 2058 David King Hall
Ph: 993-4255
email: 
(please put
PYSC 309 in the subject header)
Office Hours: 11-11:50 Wednesdays
(tentative) or by
appointment.
I fully encourage you to contact me by
email if you have any questions about the class.
Text: Sensation & Perception 7th Edition, E. Bruce Goldstein, Thomson-Wadsworth, ISBN-13: 9780534558109
Article: Macknik SL, King M, Randi J, Robbins A, Teller, Thompson J, Martinez-Conde S. (2008). Attention and
awareness in stage magic: turning tricks into research. Nature Reviews Neuroscience. 9(11), 871-879.
http://smc.neuralcorrelate.com/files/publications/macknik_martinez-conde_nrn08.pdf
Web Page: http://archlab.gmu.edu/people/mpeters2/Courses/PSY309/psy309.html
warning: url is case sensitive!
Prerequisites: Psych 300 (C- or better) or permission of
instructor.
Students who fail to attend the initial meetings of both lecture and lab
sections may be dropped from the course.
Technology Requirement Students are expected to be competent in word
processing skills, Internet use, compiling of bibliographies, literature review
searches, and downloading pictorial material from computers.
Course
Description This course is an introduction
to how the brain receives and processes information from the environment.
Course deals with sensation -- information must be received in a manner in
which our nervous system can respond to it. We will also discuss perception -
how the brain interprets information and attaches meaning to it. The study of
sensation and perception is one of the earliest areas of study in Psychology.
Attendance Policy: I expect (barring unforeseen circumstances) to see
you in class each week. Keep in mind that many of the topics discussed in class
are not discussed (or at least not in as much detail) in your textbook.
Although I do put some lecture notes on the web, they will not be complete and
will not match the presentation given in class. If you miss a class, it is up
to you to learn the missed information. NO CELL PHONES OR PAGERS.
GMU Honor Code: George Mason University has a code of Honor that each of you accepst
by enrolling as a student. My expectation is that all of the work you do for me
in this class will be the work of one individual. Plagiarism or any other
violation of the honor code will be taken very seriously and reported to the
Honor Committee. Having said that, I
fully encourage you to discuss the readings and topics raised in this class
with your fellow students.
Disabilities: If you are a student with a disability and you need
academic accommodations, please see me and contact the Disability Resource
Center (DRC) at 703-993-2474. All academic accommodations must be
arranged through that office."
Exam Make-up Policy: You may take a test after (or before) the scheduled
date only if you (a) receive my permission before the day of the test, or
(b) have a valid excuse (note from a doctor, judge, sergeant, etc.).
Papers will not be accepted beyond the due date.
|
A+ |
97+ |
|
|
|
|
|
|
A |
93-96 |
|
Grading |
Attendance |
3 |
|
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A- |
90-92 |
|
|
Lab |
33 |
|
|
B+ |
87-89 |
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Exams (4) |
64 |
|
|
B |
83-86 |
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|
|
100 |
points
total |
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B- |
80-82 |
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|
|
|
|
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C+ |
77-89 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
C |
73-86 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
C- |
70-72 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
F |
0-69 |
|
|
|
|
|
Tests (64%): There will be 4 tests, consisting of multiple-choice, fill-in-the-blank, and/or short answers. Your exam with the lowest score will be dropped.
Lab (33%): The lab will account for 33% of your total
grade in Psychology 309. Late assignments will receive partial credit.This course fulfills all/in part the
Writing-Intensive requirement in the Psychology Department.
Attendence: 3% of your grade will be based on attendence.
Calendar:
Note: The schedule
below is tentative, and though I will try to follow it as closely as possible
changes may occasionally be necessary. In the event that an exam date is
changed, you will be notified at least one week in advance.
Note that September 15th is the last day to add this class and October 2nd is the last day to drop this class.
NOTE: Chapter order was changed for the period from October
27th-November 12th.
Date |
Day |
Chapter |
Topic |
|
1-Sep |
Tues |
1 |
Intro +
Psychophysics |
|
3-Sep |
Thurs |
Appendix, 2 |
Signal
Detection, Physiology |
|
8-Sep |
Tues |
2 |
Physiology |
|
10-Sep |
Thurs |
3 |
Neurons |
|
15-Sep |
Tues |
3 |
Neurons |
|
17-Sep |
Thurs |
|
|
|
22-Sep |
Tues |
|
TEST1 |
|
24-Sep |
Thurs |
4 |
Organized
Brain |
|
29-Sep |
Tues |
5 |
Perceiving
Objects |
|
1-Oct |
Thurs |
5 |
Perceiving
Objects |
|
6-Oct |
Tues |
6 |
Visual
Attention |
|
8-Oct |
Thurs |
6 |
Visual
Attention |
|
13-Oct |
Tues |
|
COLUMBUS DAY |
|
15-Oct |
Thurs |
6 + Article |
Visual Attention
|
|
20-Oct |
Tues |
|
Sick – class cancelled |
|
22-Oct |
Thurs |
|
Test 2 |
|
27-Oct |
Tues |
7 |
Perceiving Color |
|
29-Oct |
Thurs |
7 |
Perceiving Color |
|
3-Nov |
Tues |
8 |
Perceiving Depth and Size |
|
5-Nov |
Thurs |
8 |
Perceiving Depth and Size |
|
10-Nov |
Tues |
9 |
Perceiving Movement |
|
12-Nov |
Thurs |
10 (215-223 |
Action /
Review |
|
17-Nov |
Tues |
|
Test 3 |
|
19-Nov |
Thurs |
11 |
Sound
and Auditory System |
|
24-Nov |
Tues |
11 |
Sound
and Auditory System |
|
26-Nov |
Thurs |
|
THANKSGIVING |
|
1-Dec |
Tues |
12 |
Sound
Localization |
|
3-Dec |
Thurs |
12 |
Sound
Localization |
|
8-Dec |
Tues |
13 |
Speech
Perception |
|
10-Dec |
Thurs |
13 |
Speech
Perception |
|
17-Dec
|
Thurs |
|
Test 4 |