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Title Sensory Perception in Clinical Practice and Research
Course number 5684
Programme Neurovetenskap
Language English
Credits 1.5
Date 2023-12-11 -- 2023-12-15
Responsible KI department Institutionen för klinisk neurovetenskap
Specific entry requirements
Purpose of the course The course aims to introduce students to human sensory perception with a focus on clinical utility and research. The neurological and evolutionary principles underlying vision, hearing, smell, taste, touch, and additional methods of perception will be introduced.
Intended learning outcomes Upon completion of the course, the doctoral candidate will be able
1) To show an understanding of the evolutionary and historical context for sensory neuroscience
2) To be able to differentiate between conscious perception and sub-conscious processing
3) To outline basic scientific methods for how to assess human sensory processing
4) To show an understanding for common sensory deviations in clinical medicine
Contents of the course The course will introduce the historical and evolutionary context for our senses, so as to provide an understanding for why humans operate and behave the way we do. Beyond the traditional five senses of vision, hearing, taste, smell, and touch, we will discuss several other sensory modalities available to humans, including the vestibular system. The neurological principles guiding the integration of these senses will be outlined, with special reference to subconscious and conscious decision-making. These systems will then be tested through a series of practical experiments, giving students a chance to reflect on blind-spots in human perception and how to implement these in a scientific and clinical setting. Finally, common sensory pathologies will be discussed.
Teaching and learning activities Each sensory modality will be presented through a series of lectures, where key-points will be summarized through anonymous in-class quizzes. Associated with each set of lectures will be a practical experiment illustrating how sensory perception can be manipulated, carried out as group-assignments. Time will be given for self-studies in preparation for the examination.
Compulsory elements Workshops and quizzes are obligatory, as is participation in the final examination.
Examination The examination will be in the form of a short individual presentation on a medical condition influencing sensory perception. The presentation should reference how the condition may affect sub-conscious processing and conscious perception in different ways, and outline how these processes may be tested in a clinical or academic setting. The condition should be briefly contextualized from a historical or evolutionary perspective with special reference to implications for health or healthcare. The presentation will be followed by a group discussion lead by a student opponent. Students must play an active role during both their presentation and opponency, showing that all intended learning outcomes have been achieved to pass the examination.
Literature and other teaching material Recommended literature:
Books:
• Kandel, E. R. Principles of neural science. 5th ed. edn, (McGraw-Hill, 2013).
(Information regarding specific neural processes will be retrieved from “Part V – Perception”)

• Simon, R. P., Aminoff, M. J. & Greenberg, D. A. Clinical neurology. 10th edition edn, (McGraw-Hill Education, 2018).
(see chapters “Neuro-Ophthalmic Disorders”, “Disorders of Equilibrium”, and “Sensory Disorders”)

• Biller, J. Practical Neurology. (Wolters Kluwer, 2017).
(see the chapter “Approach to the Patient with Hearing Loss”)

• Welge-Luessen, A. & Hummel, T. Management of Smell and Taste Disorders : A Practical Guide for Clinicians. (Thieme Medical Publishers, Incorporated, 2013).
(see the chapters on functional anatomy for smell and taste, as well as chapters “Smell and Taste Disorders – Diagnostic and Clinical Work-Up”, “Taste Testing”, and “Taste Disorders”)

Reading material on sensory evolution:
• Land, M. F. & Fernald, R. D. The evolution of eyes. Annual review of neuroscience 15, 1-29 (1992).

• Hoover, K. C. Smell with inspiration: the evolutionary significance of olfaction. American Journal of Physical Anthropology 143, 63-74 (2010).

• Breslin, P. A. An evolutionary perspective on food and human taste. Current Biology 23, R409-R418 (2013).

• Clack, J. A. Evolutionary biology: The origin of terrestrial hearing. Nature 519, 168 (2015).

• Koch, C., Massimini, M., Boly, M. & Tononi, G. Neural correlates of consciousness: progress and problems. Nature Reviews Neuroscience 17, 307-321 (2016).

• Prescott, T. J. & Dürr, V. The world of touch. Scholarpedia 10, 32688 (2015).
Number of students 8 - 15
Selection of students Selection will be based on 1) the relevance of the course syllabus for the applicant's doctoral project (according to written motivation), 2) start date of doctoral studies (priority given to earlier start date)
More information The course is planned to be held in-person at campus Solna. Clinicians, as well as individuals with sensory impairments are planned to be invited as guest-speakers to share their perspectives.
Additional course leader Tony Pansell
Latest course evaluation Not available
Course responsible Tobias Wibble
Institutionen för klinisk neurovetenskap

tobias.wibble@ki.se
Contact person Tony Pansell
Institutionen för klinisk neurovetenskap

Tony.Pansell@ki.se

Eugeniavägen 12

17164
SOLNA