Status: Available

The Senses

Biopsychology of sensory functions in humans and other animals

Moderators: Larry Ambs, Gordon Wyse

Details

PURPOSE:

We will study examples of sensory functions: how sensory receptors work; how sensory information is processed in nervous systems; and the behavioral and perception roles of sensory systems in humans and other animals.

DESCRIPTION:

Aristotle said, “Nothing is in the mind that did not come in through the senses.” Whether or not this is strictly true, it highlights the important roles that senses play in human and animal behavior. The seminar will consider various sensory modalities (vision, hearing, balance, olfaction, taste, etc.), how sensory stimuli activate receptor cells, and how sensory information is processed in nervous systems to regulate behavior. Examples will include visual recognition, color vision, hearing of speech and music, and the sensory basis of animal navigation.

ROLE OF PARTICIPANTS: Participants will prepare a presentation (broadly defined) and lead a follow-up discussion.

RESOURCES:

There is no required reading, but we recommend either An Immense World:

How Animal Senses Reveal the Hidden Realms Around Us, by Ed Yong (2022) or Our Senses, by Rob DeSalle (2018). We will also provide a broad list of other readings.

ABOUT THE MODERATOR: Larry Ambs is a retired UMass engineering professor. He has led numerous seminars on a wide variety of topics including the sciences, history, and political sciences. Gordon Wyse taught neurobiology and sensory physiology at UMass before retiring 11 years ago. He has led seminars in life sciences and in history.