BCS 191Q: Seeing and Acting in a Virtual World
Prerequisites: BCS 110 or equivalent and permission of the instructor
Offered: Spring
About this course:
One of the most challenging problems of our time is understanding the brain. In the past two decades, tremendous progress has been made in understanding how neural systems of the brain mediate our perceptual experience and motor responses. Much of this progress has resulted from a variety of technical advances. One such advance has been the development of technology for creating realistic visual displays (virtual reality) and for measuring motor behavior in ordinary everyday situations. Thus we can now examine experimentally a wide range of natural behaviors. In the Virtual Reality Laboratory at Rochester we have developed state of the art equipment for examining natural sensory-motor behavior. This offers a unique opportunity for students interested in brain and behavior, to use novel technology to explore a wide range of situations that have previously been outside the domain of experimental control. One virtual environment we will explore is driving around a model "town". In another virtual environment observers assemble simple toy models. In this environment observers can both feel and see the virtual model parts. Our goal is to understand how we extract information from the visual world to perform these tasks, how this guides our movements, and how this might be realized in the nervous system. Class time will be divided between lectures and labs, and a two week period will be devoted to each experiment. At the end of each two week period students present a report of their findings to the class. At the end of the semester students will do their own independent project, write a report, and present it in class.
The course will demonstrate all aspects of the research process: forming a question, designing experiments, evaluating the evidence, and communicating the findings. In addition to this there are a number of special features of the course: One is to show how virtual reality technology can be used to answer scientific questions about the brain and behavior. Another is that few laboratories with these capabilities exist, either nationally or internationally. Thus this is a truly unique opportunity. Another is that the new technology allows investigation of very basic aspects of human perception and actions that has previously been impossible. Consequently there is enormous potential for creative thinking and new discoveries.
*Students must apply to Quest courses through the office of the Dean for Undergraduate Studies.