This course focuses on the visual, auditory, and other sensory pathways that convey information about the world to mind and brain. Millions of people worldwide experience deficits in sensory function that affect their quality of life. We will focus on the characteristics of healthy sensory functioning as well as how sensory disorders can affect personal identity, impede information processing, and alter brain structure and function. The course will address the demographics and risk factors for sensory disabilities, the implications of these disabilities for activities of daily living, the history of society's response to sensory disability, as well as societal, ethical, and personal attitudes toward sensory disabilities. The course will also explore translational and applied approaches for addressing sensory disabilities. Each class session will be co-taught by a pair of instructors, representing multiple scientific and social perspectives. A major goal of the course is to view sensory function and impairment from multiple perspectives cognitive science, neuroscience, medicine, engineering, society, consumers, ethics and social justice. The course will combine lectures, discussions, and student-led presentations of research papers. The course will include hands-on demonstrations of assistive technology and panel discussions with people with visual and hearing disabilities. During the semester, each student (or pairs of students) will develop a mini research proposal to address a real-world issue related to sensory impairment. The proposal must be translational in nature, and must include consultation with consumers of the proposed project. The final class session will be devoted to poster presentations of the mini proposals. The proposal report must include consideration of potentially opposing viewpoints about the proposed research. This course addresses two of our University's grand challenges: Advancing Health Through Tailored Solutions, and Just and Equitable Communities. This is a Grand Challenge Curriculum course.

Lectures/discussions in cognitive sciences by local/visiting faculty.

Neural interface technologies currently in use in patients as well as the biophysical, neural coding, and hardware features relating to their implementation in humans. Practical and ethical considerations for implanting these devices into humans. prereq: CSE upper division student, CSE graduate student, or instructor approval. recommended: BMEn 3411

Signal processing theory for analyzing real world digital signals. Digital signal processing and mathematically derived algorithms for analysis of stochastic signals. Spectral analyses, noise cancellation, optimal filtering, blind source separation, beamforming techniques. prereq: [[MATH 2243 or MATH 2373], [MATH 2263 or MATH 2374]] or equiv

Theory, design, programming, and evaluation of interactive application interfaces. Human capabilities and limitations, interface design and engineering, prototyping and interface construction, interface evaluation, and topics such as data visualization and World Wide Web. Course is built around a group project. prereq: 4041 or instr consent

Problems of pattern recognition, feature selection, measurement techniques. Statistical decision theory, nonstatistical techniques. Automatic feature selection/data clustering. Syntactic pattern recognition. Mathematical pattern recognition/artificial intelligence. Prereq: [2031 or 2033], STAT 3021, and knowledge of partial derivatives

Models of learning. Supervised algorithms such as perceptrons, logistic regression, and large margin methods (SVMs, boosting). Hypothesis evaluation. Learning theory. Online algorithms such as winnow and weighted majority. Unsupervised algorithms, dimensionality reduction, spectral methods. Graphical models. prereq: Grad student or instr consent

Issues in perspective transformations, edge detection, image filtering, image segmentation, and feature tracking. Complex problems in shape recovery, stereo, active vision, autonomous navigation, shadows, and physics-based vision. Applications. prereq: CSci 5511, 5521, or instructor consent.

Introduction to software, technology/applications in virtual/augmented reality, 3D user interaction. Overview of current research. Hands-on projects. prereq: 4611 or 5607 or 5115 or equiv or instr consent

Advanced introduction to software engineering. Software life cycle, development models, software requirements analysis, software design, coding, maintenance. prereq: 2041 or instr consent

Various neural subsystems involved in controlling human motor function. How injury and disease of the nervous system affects motor behavior. Possibilities for rehabilitation and treatment. Lectures, seminars, class presentations. prereq: [3027 or ANAT 3001 or ANAT 3601 or ANAT 3611 or equiv], [PHSL 3051 or equiv], [4441]

Survey of theory/research on use of perceptual information for control of action. Behavioral research on perceptual guidance of daily activities (e.g., standing, walking, driving). Perceptual control in context of expertise (e.g., sports). Perceptual-motor development. prereq: grad student or instr consent

Head and neck anatomy studied from cadaver through programmed learning. Temporal bones dissected to learn anatomy and to practice otologic surgical procedures. S/N for nonmajors only. prereq: Grad otol major or instr consent

Cognitive, computational, and neuroscience perspectives on visual perception. Topics include color vision, pattern vision, image formation in the eye, object recognition, reading, and impaired vision. prereq: 3031 or 3051 or instr consent

Parallel distributed processing models in neural/cognitive science. Linear models, Hebbian rules, self-organization, non-linear networks, optimization, representation of information. Applications to sensory processing, perception, learning, memory. prereq: [[3061 or NSC 3102], [MATH 1282 or 2243]] or instr consent

Basic neuroimaging techniques/functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). First half of semester covers basic physical principles. Second half students design/execute fMRI experiment on Siemens 3 Tesla scanner. prereq: [3801 or equiv], [3061 or NSCI 3101], instr consent

Seminar. Advanced topics in auditory and visual perception. Lecture, discussion, and student-led presentations of research papers on core topics of the peripheral visual and auditory systems, cortical representations, behavioral and brain-imaging methods, and computational approaches to understanding/simulating perception. prereq: Psy grad student or instr consent

Implantable auditory prostheses. History of device development, including cochlear implants and auditory brainstem implants. Signal processing. Techniques for selection, fitting, and rehabilitation. Behavioral/physiological changes across life span. prereq: [[4802, 5801, 5802] or [CDIS 4802, CDIS 5801, CDIS 5802], SLHS grad] or instr consent

Students in this course will learn to: Describe the auditory and nonauditory effects of noise on humans, Design a successful hearing conservation program, Measure noise levels in a variety of settings, Monitor hearing, Measure hearing protection devices, Develop educational materials, and Describe federal and state regulations as they relate to hearing conservation. prereq: [8801, 8802] or [CDis 8801, CDis 8802]

Disorders of auditory system, including anatomical, physiological, perceptual, and audiological manifestations of pathologies affecting hearing. Focus will be on understanding current data on physiology, pharmacology, and novel treatment alternatives prereq: [[8801, 8802] or [CDIS 8801, CDIS 8802], SLHS grad] or instr consent