Skip to main content
Unit outline_

HSBH3025: Bodily Senses in Health and Disease

Semester 2a, 2021 [Normal day] - Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney

Sensory input allows us to connect to the world and experience varied states of our own body. Understanding how senses work is important for basic science, esp. neuroscience and psychology, and applied areas such as health and engineering. This unit focuses on the sensory processes that underlie perception of one's own body and its actions. Sensory functioning in both healthy and disease states are considered, including the following topics: proprioception or sense of position and movement of body parts, vestibular system, touch, role of vision, brain plasticity, disorders of sensory processing (agnosias, neglect , phantom limbs, vertigo) and most recent experimental developments in rehabilitation and brain-computer interface. Tutorial assessment includes in-depth analysis of a topic of your choice and running your own experiments. NB: This unit does not teach about treatments taught in the core units of professional health science degrees.

Unit details and rules

Academic unit Health Sciences
Credit points 6
Prerequisites
? 
None
Corequisites
? 
None
Prohibitions
? 
None
Assumed knowledge
? 

Introductory neuroscience

Available to study abroad and exchange students

No

Teaching staff

Coordinator Tatjana Seizova-Cajic, tatjana.seizova-cajic@sydney.edu.au
Type Description Weight Due Length
Assignment hurdle task My perceptual investigation
Essay on a theoretical concept, sensory function, disorder or application
30% Week 06
Due date: 17 Sep 2021 at 23:59

Closing date: 01 Oct 2021
1200 words
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO3 LO5
Participation Tutorial participation
Participation in class Weeks 7, 8, 11 and 12 tutorials
5% Week 12
Due date: 03 Nov 2021 at 13:00

Closing date: 03 Nov 2021
Weeks 7, 8, 11 and 12 tutorials
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO5 LO4 LO2
Presentation hurdle task Group experimental project
Design, conduct, analyze and report a simple experiment
25% Week 13
Due date: 10 Nov 2021 at 13:00

Closing date: 10 Nov 2021
4-hr experiment; 15 min presentation
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO4 LO5
Assignment hurdle task Final Assignment
Questions will assess understanding and application of concepts
40% Week 13
Due date: 15 Nov 2021 at 23:59

Closing date: 15 Nov 2021
48+ hours
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO5 LO3 LO2
hurdle task = hurdle task ?

Assessment summary

My perceptual investigation, an essay (30%): In-depth exploration of a theoretical concept, sensory function, disorder or application. A list of recommended topics will be given, or choose your own; topic needs to be approved by the lecturer in Week 3 tutorial, along with two related papers of your choice.

Group experimental project (25%): You will design and conduct a simple experiment and present the findings in class (15 min: 10 to present + 5 for questions). Your work during the semester and presentation will both contribute to the mark. Please submit presentation slides on the day of the presentation.

Participation (5%): Your active contribution to tutorials in Weeks 7, 8, 11, 12 and 13 attracts 5% or 1% per class; you need to prepare in order to contribute.

Take-home final assignment (40%): You will have 48 hours to answer the questions.

 

Assessment criteria

Result name

Mark range

Description

High distinction

85 - 100

Shows mastery of concepts and sophistication in their application to novel situations

Distinction

75 - 84

Shows very good understanding of most concepts and ability to apply them to new situations

Credit

65 - 74

Shows good understanding of most concepts and limited ability to apply them to new situations

Pass

50 - 64

Shows basic understanding of important concepts and very limited ability to apply them

Fail

0 - 49

When you don’t meet the learning outcomes of the unit to a satisfactory standard.

For more information see guide to grades.

Late submission

In accordance with University policy, these penalties apply when written work is submitted after 11:59pm on the due date:

  • Deduction of 5% of the maximum mark for each calendar day after the due date.
  • After ten calendar days late, a mark of zero will be awarded.

Academic integrity

The Current Student website provides information on academic integrity and the resources available to all students. The University expects students and staff to act ethically and honestly and will treat all allegations of academic integrity breaches seriously.

We use similarity detection software to detect potential instances of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breach. If such matches indicate evidence of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breaches, your teacher is required to report your work for further investigation.

Use of generative artificial intelligence (AI) and automated writing tools

You may only use generative AI and automated writing tools in assessment tasks if you are permitted to by your unit coordinator. If you do use these tools, you must acknowledge this in your work, either in a footnote or an acknowledgement section. The assessment instructions or unit outline will give guidance of the types of tools that are permitted and how the tools should be used.

Your final submitted work must be your own, original work. You must acknowledge any use of generative AI tools that have been used in the assessment, and any material that forms part of your submission must be appropriately referenced. For guidance on how to acknowledge the use of AI, please refer to the AI in Education Canvas site.

The unapproved use of these tools or unacknowledged use will be considered a breach of the Academic Integrity Policy and penalties may apply.

Studiosity is permitted unless otherwise indicated by the unit coordinator. The use of this service must be acknowledged in your submission as detailed on the Learning Hub’s Canvas page.

Outside assessment tasks, generative AI tools may be used to support your learning. The AI in Education Canvas site contains a number of productive ways that students are using AI to improve their learning.

Simple extensions

If you encounter a problem submitting your work on time, you may be able to apply for an extension of five calendar days through a simple extension.  The application process will be different depending on the type of assessment and extensions cannot be granted for some assessment types like exams.

Special consideration

If exceptional circumstances mean you can’t complete an assessment, you need consideration for a longer period of time, or if you have essential commitments which impact your performance in an assessment, you may be eligible for special consideration or special arrangements.

Special consideration applications will not be affected by a simple extension application.

Using AI responsibly

Co-created with students, AI in Education includes lots of helpful examples of how students use generative AI tools to support their learning. It explains how generative AI works, the different tools available and how to use them responsibly and productively.

WK Topic Learning activity Learning outcomes
Week 01 What is perception? Why do we perceive the world and ourselves the way we do? Online class (2 hr) LO1 LO2
Perceptual illusions and what we can learn from them Tutorial (1 hr) LO1
Week 02 Sensory neuroscience Online class (2 hr) LO1 LO2
Qualia and sensory neurons: Eye-press demo; filling-in; synesthesia Tutorial (1 hr) LO1
Week 03 How do we investigate perception? Online class (2 hr) LO1 LO4
Role of knowledge in perception: Bumps and holes; Hand-in-the-mirror; Aristotle's illusion Tutorial (1 hr) LO1
Week 04 My body and forces applied to it: Touch Online class (2 hr) LO2 LO3
Touch: Spatial sensitivity across our bodies Tutorial (1 hr) LO2
Week 05 My body and forces applied to it: Proprioception Online class (2 hr) LO2 LO3
Proprioception: Postural adaptations; vibration illusions Tutorial (1 hr) LO2
Week 06 My body and forces applied to it: Vestibular system Online class (2 hr) LO2 LO3
My sense of balance Tutorial (1 hr) LO2
Week 07 My body and forces applied to it: Interoception Online class (2 hr) LO2 LO3
My heartbeat; Research question for group project Tutorial (1 hr) LO2 LO4
Week 08 Group project: Research question; detailed experimental design Tutorial (1 hr) LO4
Week 09 My body in space: Perception of self-motion Online class (2 hr) LO2 LO3
Data collection Independent study (2 hr) LO4
Week 10 Experimenting with my body and my sentient smart phone Online class (2 hr) LO2 LO3 LO4
Data collection and processing Independent study (2 hr) LO4
Week 11 Applications: Virtual reality and remote sensing Online class (2 hr) LO3
Data analysis and interpretation Tutorial (1 hr) LO1 LO2 LO4
Week 12 Applications: Sensory augmentation and substitution; artificial intelligence; Online class (2 hr) LO3
Draft presentations and class discussion of findings Tutorial (1 hr) LO2 LO4 LO5
Week 13 Presentations (marked) Tutorial (1 hr) LO4 LO5

Attendance and class requirements

Lectues are online and live, with some pre-recorded content. We hope that you will attend them for their interactive content, to ask questions and to contribute with your knowledge and observations about perception.

Tutorials are compulsory. Your active contribution is crucial in Week 8-12 tutorials, worth 5% of the total mark.

Study commitment

Typically, there is a minimum expectation of 1.5-2 hours of student effort per week per credit point for units of study offered over a full semester. For a 6 credit point unit, this equates to roughly 120-150 hours of student effort in total.

Required readings

Reading list is given on Canvas

Learning outcomes are what students know, understand and are able to do on completion of a unit of study. They are aligned with the University's graduate qualities and are assessed as part of the curriculum.

At the completion of this unit, you should be able to:

  • LO1. Understand basics of perception theory and how we empirically investigate senses
  • LO2. Understand how we perceive our own body, forces acting on us and our orientation and movement in space
  • LO3. Understand how knowledge about sensory processing is applied in technology and health
  • LO4. Developed the ability to design, conduct and interpret a simple perception experiment
  • LO5. Further improve written and oral scholarly communication

Graduate qualities

The graduate qualities are the qualities and skills that all University of Sydney graduates must demonstrate on successful completion of an award course. As a future Sydney graduate, the set of qualities have been designed to equip you for the contemporary world.

GQ1 Depth of disciplinary expertise

Deep disciplinary expertise is the ability to integrate and rigorously apply knowledge, understanding and skills of a recognised discipline defined by scholarly activity, as well as familiarity with evolving practice of the discipline.

GQ2 Critical thinking and problem solving

Critical thinking and problem solving are the questioning of ideas, evidence and assumptions in order to propose and evaluate hypotheses or alternative arguments before formulating a conclusion or a solution to an identified problem.

GQ3 Oral and written communication

Effective communication, in both oral and written form, is the clear exchange of meaning in a manner that is appropriate to audience and context.

GQ4 Information and digital literacy

Information and digital literacy is the ability to locate, interpret, evaluate, manage, adapt, integrate, create and convey information using appropriate resources, tools and strategies.

GQ5 Inventiveness

Generating novel ideas and solutions.

GQ6 Cultural competence

Cultural Competence is the ability to actively, ethically, respectfully, and successfully engage across and between cultures. In the Australian context, this includes and celebrates Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, knowledge systems, and a mature understanding of contemporary issues.

GQ7 Interdisciplinary effectiveness

Interdisciplinary effectiveness is the integration and synthesis of multiple viewpoints and practices, working effectively across disciplinary boundaries.

GQ8 Integrated professional, ethical, and personal identity

An integrated professional, ethical and personal identity is understanding the interaction between one’s personal and professional selves in an ethical context.

GQ9 Influence

Engaging others in a process, idea or vision.

Outcome map

Learning outcomes Graduate qualities
GQ1 GQ2 GQ3 GQ4 GQ5 GQ6 GQ7 GQ8 GQ9

This section outlines changes made to this unit following staff and student reviews.

This unit ran in an intensive, 7-weeks mode; the students found the content interesting and even fascinating but sometimes felt overwhelmed. The unit now runs in a normal semester mode of 13 weeks.

Disclaimer

The University reserves the right to amend units of study or no longer offer certain units, including where there are low enrolment numbers.

To help you understand common terms that we use at the University, we offer an online glossary.