This is an Honours Pathway Course, in which lectures emphasise recent research topics and students carry out a substantial research project with PhD students, postdoctoral researchers and senior academics in the Research School of Biology. The course will examine current topics in sensory physiology and neural control of behaviour (ecological neuroscience), such as sensory ecology of vision, hearing and olfaction, animal communication and animal navigation. The emphasis is on information processing in animals under natural conditions, both with regard to environmental variables and internal states, including the design of sensory systems in relation to environment and life style. Topics covered may vary between years and students are advised to check the syllabus with the course convener. 

Enrolment for this course is restricted and convenor permission is required.

On satisfying the requirements of this course, students will have the knowledge and skills to:

1. Describe and understand the way in which light, sound, mechanical forces and chemicals are being sensed and coded in sensory systems
2. Identify, explain and analyse the information content of different sensory modalities
3. Assess and analyse the structure and knowledge-base of animal navigation and animal communication
4. Conduct and critically assess measurements and experiments on colour & spatial vision, on functional morphology of insect eyes and on animal navigation
5. Write a scientific report on an extended research project in ecological neuroscience (one of ANU's research strengths)

Assessment will be based on:

• Oral and written reports on research project (50%; LO 4, 5)
• Examination (50%; LO 1-3)

In 2011 the course will be run in a 2-week block in February (Feb 7 to Feb 18), immediately before the start of Semester 1. Three hours of lectures and 3 hours of practical work per day. The research project will be carried out on two full days of field work in Canberra.  

BIOL2103.

Courses in Physics, Physiology & Neuroscience