Modules Master
Course title:
Psychophysics and Non-invasive Methods
Module number GTCNEURO
Type of Module mandatory for NIP, elective for NB
Credits allocated 3
Workload 90 h
Contact time 30 h / 2 SWS
Self-study 60 h
Module length
1 term
Frequency of module
Annually in summer term
Language English
Type of Course Lecture course
Exam & Grading
Written exam, graded; length: 90 min
Objective
The Vision Sciences are an interdisciplinary field, with researchers having diverse backgrounds from psychology, biology, or medicine to physics, computer science and engineering. Analysing and designing experiments in the Vision Sciences thus requires knowledge straddling the typical boundaries of many disciplines. In this course we will cover some physics (light), electrical engineering (display devices), mathematical psychology (signal detection theory) and statistics (psychometric function estimation) in sufficient detail, to allow the students to both analyse and critically assess psychophysical experiments in the literature, as well as to design their own psychophysical experiments.
Learning targets
Participants will acquire the necessary knowledge to critically assess experiments in the vision sciences as well as the necessary skills to design and analyse their own behavioural (psychophysical) experiments. Through homework assignments and computer exercises they will gain hands-on experience applying signal detection theory and psychometric function estimation to data, and avoid common pitfalls.
Allowable for
GTC - Master, Neural Information Processing
GTC - Master, Neural and Behavioural Sciences
Prerequisites Basic mathematical skills (probability theory, calculus), Programming skills (MATLAB)
Course Co-ordinator Prof. Felix Wichmann, DPhil
Suggested reading
Wickens, T.D. (2002). Elementary Signal Detection Theory. Oxford University Press.
Green, D.M. & Swets, J.A. (1988). Signal Detection Theory and Psychophysics. Peninsula Publishing.
Original research papers will be provided during the course.