DOCTORAL COURSE UNIT DESCRIPTION
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Course unit title |
Scientific direction ScieNtific code |
Facuty |
Department (s) |
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Sensory systems |
Biophysics N011 Biology N010 |
Life Sciences Center |
Institute of Biosciences |
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Mode of studies |
Number of credits |
Mode of studies |
Number of credits |
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Lectures |
0 |
Consultations |
2 |
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Self-studies |
4 |
Seminars |
0 |
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Aims of course |
The aim of the course is to acquaint with the mechanisms of structure and functioning of sensory systems found in the animal world. |
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Main topics |
The course starts with general subjects: functions of sensory systems, basic properties of stimuli (modality, intensity, duration, location), processes at the level of receptors, sensory circuits and perception, transduction mechanisms, receptive field concept, influence of spontaneous activity on receptor activity, coding principles in sensory systems - linear, logarithmic coding; Weber, Fechner, Stevens laws. Then, separate sensory systems are analyzed in detail: hunger, thirst, smell, taste, lateral line, magnetoreceptive, somatosensory, proprioreceptoyr, echolocation, hearing, balance, vision. In the case of each sensory system, the structure of sensory organs, their operating principles, transduction mechanisms, projections are presented. |
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Main literature |
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E.R.Kandel, J.H.Schwartz, T.M.Jessell Principles of neural science, 2012. M.F. Bear, B.W. Connors, M.A. Paradiso “Neuroscience. Exploring the brain”, Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, 2007 L.R. Squire, D. Berg, F.E. Bloom, S.du Lac, A. Ghosh, N.C. Spitzer “Fundamental Neuroscience”, Academic Press, 2008 M.S. Gazzaniga “The Cognitive Neurosciences”, A Bradford Book, 2004 |
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Rukšėnas O., Grikšienė R. Sensorinių sistemų biofizika, VU leidykla, 2007 |
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Assessment strategy |
Assessment criteria |
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Exam, seminar |
Exam - written and oral, 5 questions, free answers. a 10-point scale evaluates the correctness and completeness of the answers. Seminar - agreed topic, duration of the presentation at least 45 minutes, at least 20 scientific articles must be reviewed during the seminar. On a 10-point scale, the oral and visual aspects of the seminar and the answers to the questions are assessed. |
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Coordinator(s): Name, surname |
Scientic degree |
Pedagogical rank |
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Osvaldas Rukšėnas |
Habil. Dr. (HP) |
Prof. |
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Approved by the Council of Graduate School of Life Sciences Center No 600000-…-… on the …. of …… 2021 |
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Chairman |