Course Description

This course explores sensory systems in humans, animals and machines, and how they are used to control action, behaviour and physiological state. Students learn about the various ways in which an agent can exploit physical energies such as light, sound, and chemical signals to serve their species-specific needs. Adopting a comparative approach, the course focuses on highly specialized sensory systems and unusual, often surprising solutions to sensory challenges. Sensory systems are explored with respect to the function, the principles of the underlying information processing, and their physiological implementation in the organism. To understand the value of specialized sensory systems, the course also discusses the context in which sensory systems are used, and the constraints that may limit their evolution. Technical solutions to sensory problems in robotics are discussed and compared to those invented by natural evolution. Theories covered include Bayesian Inference, Ideal Observer Theory, and Control Theory. Discussion of original literature and examples that showcase the reality of empirical science are used whenever appropriate.

Prerequisites: SC/BIOL 3060 4.00 or HH/PSYC 2220 3.00 or HH/NRSC 2100 3.0.