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Unit outline_

HSBH3025: Bodily Senses in Health and Disease

Semester 2, 2022 [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
? 

None

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
Participation Quizzes and tutorial participation
Online lecture quizzes; tutorial participation
15% Ongoing
Due date: 04 Nov 2022 at 13:00

Closing date: 04 Nov 2022
Throughout
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO5 LO4 LO3 LO2
Assignment My perceptual investigation
Essay on a theoretical concept, sensory function, disorder or application
25% Week 06
Due date: 09 Sep 2022 at 23:59

Closing date: 09 Sep 2022
1200 words
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO3 LO5
Presentation group assignment Group experimental project
Design, conduct, analyze and report a simple experiment
30% Week 13
Due date: 01 Nov 2022 at 14:00

Closing date: 02 Nov 2022
4-hr experiment; 15 min presentation
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO4 LO5
Assignment Final Assignment
Questions will assess understanding and application of concepts
30% Week 13
Due date: 04 Nov 2022 at 23:59

Closing date: 04 Nov 2022
800 words/ 48 hours release
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO5 LO3 LO2
Group assignment with individually assessed component = group assignment with individually assessed component ?

Assessment summary

My perceptual investigation, an essay (25%): 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 (30%): 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 (15%):  Four best quizzes for online lectures (3% each) and tutorial participation (3%). If you miss more than 4 tutorials (without a justified reason), you will receive 0% for tutorial participation.

Take-home final assignment (30%): 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? (F2F lecture) Lecture (2 hr) LO1 LO2
How we investigate perception: phenomenological report; psychophysics Tutorial (1 hr) LO1 LO4
Week 02 Role of knowledge; Illusions; Multisensory integration (pre-recorded) Online class (2 hr) LO1 LO2
Demonstrations related to role of knowledge in perception, illusions and multisensory integration Tutorial (1 hr) LO1 LO2
Week 03 Adaptation and aftereffects; perception and action (face-to-face lecture) Lecture (2 hr) LO1 LO4
Demonstrations: Postural aftereffects, prism adaptation, Whose hand illusion Tutorial (1 hr) LO1
Week 04 Touch; proprioception; interoception (pre-recorded) Online class (2 hr) LO2 LO3
Demonstrations: Tactile motion; 2-point threshold; vibration illusions and their effect on action Tutorial (1 hr) LO2
Week 05 Deep dive: The concept of body ownership and its relation to multisensory integration (F2F) Lecture (2 hr) LO2 LO3
Demonstrations: Virtual Reality; Body ownership Tutorial (1 hr) LO2
Week 06 Vestibular system; vestibular system and vision (pre-recorded) Online class (2 hr) LO2 LO3
Demonstrations: Virtual reality; body ownership; vestibular system Tutorial (1 hr) LO2
Week 07 Deep dive: Vestibular disorders (F2F) Lecture (2 hr) LO2 LO3
Research questions for group project - bring yours; experimental method; phenomenology and psychophysics revisited Tutorial (1 hr) LO1 LO2 LO4
Week 08 Pain – moving beyond naïve realism about pain (pre-recorded) Online class (2 hr) LO2 LO3
Final research question; detailed study design and plan for data analysis (come with ideas) Tutorial (1 hr) LO4
Week 09 Data collection (real or mock trial for tutor to provide feedback on; 10-15 min per group; come well-prepared) Tutorial (1 hr) LO1 LO4
Week 10 Deep dive: Phantom limb pain (F2F) Lecture (2 hr) LO2 LO3 LO4
Results processing: discuss your plan and difficulties with class, get feedback (seek tutor guidance beforehand; come prepared) Independent study (1 hr) LO1 LO4
Week 11 Artificial and augmented sensory systems (pre-recorded) Online class (2 hr) LO3
Data analysis and interpretation Tutorial (1 hr) LO1 LO2 LO4
Week 12 Deep dive: Neuroprosthetics - restoring touch lost through stroke or injury (F2F) Lecture (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

Lectures are of two types: face to face or pre-recorded. Details are in Canvas and your timetable. Please attend the live lectures for a better experience and to create an environment for an exciting develpment and exchange of ideas. Online lectures should be viewed before that week’s tutorial.

Tutorials are compulsory. Please be attentive and engaged in your own way. 

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

The readings are given in 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.

Past students praised detailed feedback on draft assignments. We will continue to offer it prior to submission. For the first time, your response to our feedback on the first assignment has become a part of the last assignment; this will give you continuity and allow even deeper learning.

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.