Bodily Senses in Health and Disease
HSBH5004
This unit is concerned with the sensory processes that underlie perception of one's own body, its states and actions - proprioception or sense of position and movement of body parts; vestibular system information, or sense of balance and motion relative to gravity; and touch and vision (to the extent that they contribute to the perception of body and its actions). Healthy functioning in both healthy and disease states will be considered. Topics covered include: revision and extension of basic neurophysiology of the senses (focusing on function rather than anatomy), brain plasticity, principles of perception, disorders of sensory processing (agnosias, neglect, pain states, phantom limbs, vertigo) and recent experimental developments in treatment of some of the mentioned clinical conditions. We will also examine the use of technology as an extension of one's impaired body (e.g., brain-computer interface possibilities, or the ability to interact with a computer using one's mental activity only). Tutorial assessment includes in-depth analysis of a topic of your choice and running your own experiments. Purpose: To develop a broad knowledge about sensory function concerning the body, and an understanding of theory and research approaches. NB. The unit does not teach about standard treatments taught in the core units of professional courses. You will not be instructed directly what to do with patients, but will gain a broad knowledge that allows you to better understand the complexity of their states. This will develop your ability to reflect on the current health practice, understand its future developments and personally contribute to them.
Unit of study details
Unit of study level: Postgraduate
Credit points: 6
Commencing semesters: 2
Further unit of study information
Unit of study handbook: HSBH5004
Costs and scholarships information: Costs and Scholarships
Final dates to withdraw from units of study: Census Dates
Available for study abroad and exchange: No