Skip to main content
Unit outline_

PSYC3013: Perceptual Systems

Semester 2, 2023 [Normal day] - Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney

How do we know what’s out in the world? Indeed, how do we know anything at all? Sensing the world around us and turning that into a reliable representation that can guide behaviour and knowledge is fundamental to everything we do. The acts of ‘seeing’ and ‘hearing’ seem effortless and instantaneous, yet perception poses enormous challenges and is probably the most complex problem the brain must solve. In this course, you will learn how we see colour and movement, how we perceive surfaces and know materials, and how a robust perception must combine other senses such as sound, vision and touch, or taste and smell? You will also learn about the limits of perception, and surprisingly, how much it uses guesswork, prediction and filling-in to compensate. This unit draws on multiple perspectives (behaviour, neurophysiology, modelling, neuroimaging) to answer these questions and deepen your understanding of perception. The lecturers are all research-active leaders in the field and present the latest work on these research topics. Students will gain conceptual tools for evaluating the empirical and theoretical worth of recent research in perception and the tutorial component will involve working in small groups to formulate a hypothesis and develop a simple experiment to test it by collecting and analysing data. Students thus gain practical research experience that gives them valuable insight into the scientific process as it exists both in professional work and in empirical research project for Honours.

Unit details and rules

Academic unit Psychology Academic Operations
Credit points 6
Prerequisites
? 
(PSYC2010 or PSYC2910 or PSYC2011 or PSYC2911 or PSYC2016) and PSYC2012
Corequisites
? 
None
Prohibitions
? 
PSYC3913
Assumed knowledge
? 

None

Available to study abroad and exchange students

Yes

Teaching staff

Coordinator David Alais, david.alais@sydney.edu.au
Lecturer(s) Frans Verstraten, frans.verstraten@sydney.edu.au
Bart Anderson, barton.anderson@sydney.edu.au
David Alais, david.alais@sydney.edu.au
Alex Holcombe, alex.holcombe@sydney.edu.au
Tutor(s) David Alais, david.alais@sydney.edu.au
Type Description Weight Due Length
Supervised exam
? 
Final exam
MCQ and/or SAQs
45% Formal exam period 2 hours
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6 LO7
Small continuous assessment Lecture Quizzes
See Canvas for details
5% Ongoing See Canvas for details
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO7 LO6 LO5 LO4 LO3 LO2
Assignment Essay
Written assignment.
25% Week 10
Due date: 12 Oct 2023 at 23:59

Closing date: 09 Nov 2023
2000 words
Outcomes assessed: LO4 LO5 LO6
Tutorial quiz Tutorial Quiz
MCQs and/or SAQs
15% Week 12 45 mins
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO7 LO6 LO5 LO4 LO3 LO2
Presentation group assignment Group Presentation
Short presentation to the class on a topic to be distributed.
10% Week 13 15 mins
Outcomes assessed: LO4 LO5 LO6 LO7
group assignment = group assignment ?

Assessment summary

  • Essay (25%): Students will complete a 2000 word written assignment on a topic to be distributed. See Canvas for more details.
  • Tutorial Quiz (15%): The quiz will assess the content from the tutorials in the form of multiple choice and/or short answer questions. See Canvas for more details.
  • Lecture Quizzes (5%): There will be formative quizzes held during lectures to go through lecture materials across the semester. 
  • Group Presentation (10%): Students will make a brief presentation to the class on topics to be distributed. See Canvas for more details.
  • Final Exam (45%): This is a compulsory task which you need to attempt, or you will receive an absent fail, but no minimum mark is required.

Assessment criteria

The University awards common result grades, set out in the Coursework Policy 2014 (Schedule 1).

As a general guide, a high distinction indicates work of an exceptional standard, a distinction a very high standard, a credit a good standard, and a pass an acceptable 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.

This unit has an exception to the standard University policy or supplementary information has been provided by the unit coordinator. This information is displayed below:

You will receive a penalty of 5% of the maximum value of the assignment for each calendar day it is submitted after your due date. More than 10 calendar days after your due date, a mark of zero is applied. Submissions will not be accepted after the closing date.

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 The retina and filling-in of blindspots Lecture (1 hr) LO2 LO3
Spatial resolution of vision and attention Lecture (1 hr) LO2 LO3
Week 02 Spatial resolution of vision and attention (II) Lecture (1 hr) LO2 LO3
Temporal resolution of vision and attention Lecture (1 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3
Intro to Perception Tutorial (2 hr) LO2 LO4
Week 03 Temporal resolution of vision and attention (II) Lecture (1 hr) LO2 LO3
Touch Lecture (1 hr) LO2 LO3
The Blind Spot / Filling In Tutorial (2 hr) LO2 LO3 LO4
Week 04 Signal detection theory Lecture (1 hr) LO2 LO3
Touch (II) Lecture (1 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3
SDT Tutorial (2 hr) LO2 LO3 LO6
Week 05 The levels and problems of perception Lecture (1 hr) LO2 LO3
Diffuse surface reflectance:  Lightness Lecture (1 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3
Receptive Fields Tutorial (2 hr) LO2 LO3 LO4
Week 06 Diffuse reflectance: Shading and shape Lecture (1 hr) LO2 LO3
Shading, shape, and material Lecture (1 hr) LO2 LO3
Motion Tutorial (2 hr) LO2 LO3 LO4
Week 07 Specular reflectance: gloss and sheen Lecture (1 hr) LO2 LO3
Specular reflectance and Shape Lecture (1 hr) LO2 LO3
Somatosensation Tutorial (2 hr) LO2 LO3 LO4
Week 08 Translucency and transparency Lecture (1 hr) LO2 LO3
High order interactions: putting the pieces together Lecture (1 hr) LO2 LO3
Week 09 Introduction to multisensory perception Lecture (1 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3
Multisensory Integration Tutorial (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4
Week 10 Combing the senses: spatial and temporal rules Lecture (1 hr) LO2 LO3
Multisensory cortex Lecture (1 hr) LO1 LO3
Week 11 Applied vision Lecture (1 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3
Models of sensory integration Lecture (1 hr) LO2 LO3
Applied Perception Tutorial (2 hr) LO7
Week 12 Sensory integration from synchrony Lecture (1 hr) LO2 LO3
Temporal recalibration Lecture (1 hr) LO2 LO3
Tutorial Quiz Tutorial (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6 LO7
Week 13 Resolving visual ambiguity with sound and touch Lecture (1 hr) LO2 LO3
Synesthesia: cross-wired senses` Lecture (1 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3
Group Presentations Tutorial (2 hr) LO4 LO5 LO6 LO7

Attendance and class requirements

  • Lecture attendance: 80% is recommended in order to pass the unit.
  • Tutorial attendance: Attendance is recorded and 80% is recommended in order to pass the unit.

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.

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. have a deep understanding of various areas of visual perception and a familiarity with auditory and tactile perception, too.
  • LO2. gain an understanding of the various research methods used in perceptual research and an understanding of the computational and neurophysiological underpinnings of perceptual processes.
  • LO3. gain an understanding of perceptual science, its methods, and how to present it to others.
  • LO4. (i) develop knowledge of several of the perceptual problems the brain must solve (such as combining information from distinct senses) (ii) Appreciation of common processing principles for how the brain solves perceptual problems (such as adaptation) (iii) Conceptual understanding of the limits on human perception and how they relate to the underlying mechanisms (such as acuity) (iv) Understanding of specific perceptual phenomena and how they arise as a consequence of processing architecture, especially in vision and audition (v) Basic knowledge of methods and measures commonly used in perception research (vi) Ability to understand and evaluate empirical studies in perception
  • LO5. (i) develop an understanding of the major methods of perceptual research (ii) Critically assess research findings and related theories in these areas (iii) Design and conduct basic studies to address perceptual questions: frame research questions; undertake literature searches; critically analyse theoretical and empirical studies; formulate testable hypotheses; operationalise variables; choose an appropriate methodology; make valid and reliable measurements; analyse data and interpret results; and write research reports.
  • LO6. (i) demonstrate an attitude of critical thinking that includes persistence, open---mindedness, and intellectual engagement. (ii) Evaluate evidence & information; differentiate empirical evidence from speculation. (iii) Think about how perception might be achieved mechanistically (iv) Evaluate issues using different theoretical and methodological approaches. (v) Use reasoning and evidence to recognise, develop, defend, and criticise arguments.
  • LO7. (i) develop an awareness of the applications of the theories and findings in the area. (ii) Apply psychological concepts, theories, and research findings to problems in everyday life and in society. (iii) Understand major areas of applied Perceptual Psychology.

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.

Delayed major essay due date by a day to avoid clash with lecture

Work, health and safety

We are governed by the Work Health and Safety Act 2011, Work Health and Safety Regulation 2011 and Codes of Practice. Penalties for non-compliance have increased. Everyone has a responsibility for health and safety at work. The University’s Work Health and Safety policy explains the responsibilities and expectations of workers and others, and the procedures for managing WHS risks associated with University activities.

General Laboratory Safety Rules

  • No eating or drinking is allowed in any laboratory under any circumstances 

  • A laboratory coat and closed-toe shoes are mandatory 

  • Follow safety instructions in your manual and posted in laboratories 

  • In case of fire, follow instructions posted outside the laboratory door 

  • First aid kits, eye wash and fire extinguishers are located in or immediately outside each laboratory 

  • As a precautionary measure, it is recommended that you have a current tetanus immunisation. This can be obtained from University Health Service: unihealth.usyd.edu.au/

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.