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Sensory Science: The Senses
  • Level Foundation
  • Duration 13 hours
  • Course by University of California, Davis
  • Offered by

About

Humans are amazing sensors! This course will help you understand our sensing capabilities including taste, olfaction, tactile senses, vision, and audition. The course will explain at a high-level the anatomy, physiology, and chemistry of the senses and give you an appreciation of how senses are transmitted to, and experienced by, the brain. You’ll learn by experience to assess cases such as dysfunctions in olfaction or tactile temperature adaptation. Optional podcast conversations with experts in the field are included each week to provide additional insight on our senses and sensory research.

Modules

Getting Started

    • 1 Videos
    • 1 Readings
    • 1 Discussion
Show info about module content

1 Discussions

  • Learning Goals

1 Videos

  • Course Introduction

1 Readings

  • A Note from UC Davis

Taste, Part 1

    • 6 Videos
    • 1 Readings
    • 1 Discussion
Show info about module content

1 Discussions

  • Taste Adaptation Activity Results

6 Videos

  • Module Introduction
  • Taste - One of the Chemical Senses
  • Taste Anatomy: Taste Buds
  • Taste Nerve System
  • Taste Transduction
  • Taste Adaptation

1 Readings

  • Taste Adaptation Activity

Taste, Part 2

    • 4 Videos
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4 Videos

  • Mixture Effects, Inhibition and Synergy
  • Trigeminal Chemical Sensitivity
  • Taste Sensitivity
  • Basic Taste

Additional Activities (Optional)

    • 1 Readings
    • 1 Discussion
Show info about module content

1 Discussions

  • Selected Sensory Demonstration Activities Results

1 Readings

  • Selected Sensory Demonstration Activities (Optional)

Additional Resources

    • 4 Readings
    • 1 Discussion
Show info about module content

1 Discussions

  • (Optional Forum) Podcast: Joel Sidel

4 Readings

  • (Optional) Podcast: A Conversation with Joel Sidel
  • Receptors and Transduction in Taste
  • Two Decades of Supertasting: Where do we Stand?
  • The Human Preference for Excess Salt

Review

    • 1 Assignment
Show info about module content

1 Assignment

  • Module 1 Quiz

Olfaction and Tactile, Part 1

    • 6 Videos
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6 Videos

  • Module Introduction
  • Smell: The Chemical Nature of Odorous Stimuli
  • Olfactory System Anatomy
  • Smell Transduction
  • Perception of Smell
  • Classification of Odors

Additional Resources

    • 2 Readings
Show info about module content

2 Readings

  • A Novel Mutigene Family May Encode Odorant Receptors: A Molecular Basis for Odor Recognition
  • Combinatorial Receptor Codes for Odors

Review

    • 1 Assignment
Show info about module content

1 Assignment

  • Module 2 Quiz

Olfaction and Tactile, Part 2

    • 4 Videos
    • 1 Readings
    • 1 Discussion
Show info about module content

1 Discussions

  • Temperature Adaptation Activity Results

4 Videos

  • Stereochemical Theory: Lock and key
  • Adaptation
  • Orthonasal and Retronasal Olfaction
  • Tactile Sensations, Cutaneous Perception

1 Readings

  • Temperature Adaptation Activity

Additional Resources

    • 3 Readings
    • 1 Discussion
Show info about module content

1 Discussions

  • (Optional Forum) Podcast: Dr. Ann Noble

3 Readings

  • (Optional) Podcast: A Conversation Dr. Ann Noble
  • Predicting the Handle and Comfort of Military Clothing Fabrics from Sensory and Instrumental Data
  • Odorant Shape and Vibration Likely Lead to Olfaction Satisfaction

Review

    • 1 Assignment
Show info about module content

1 Assignment

  • Module 3 Quiz

Visual

    • 7 Videos
Show info about module content

7 Videos

  • Module Introduction
  • The Anatomy of the Eye
  • The Receptors
  • Visual Areas of the Brain
  • Optical Illusions
  • Depth Perception
  • Color Perception

Audition

    • 2 Videos
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2 Videos

  • Hearing: Audition
  • Hearing Transduction and Adaptation

Additional Resources

    • 3 Readings
    • 1 Discussion
Show info about module content

1 Discussions

  • (Optional Forum) Podcast: Dr. Armand Cardello

3 Readings

  • (Optional) Podcast: A Conversation with Dr. Armand Cardello
  • Chemesthesis: Pungency as a Component of Flavor
  • Sound Perception and Food Quality

Review

    • 1 Discussion
    • 1 Assignment
Show info about module content

1 Assignment

  • Module 4 Quiz

1 Discussions

  • Influences on Sensory Evaluation Studies

Course Summary

    • 1 Videos
    • 1 Discussion
Show info about module content

1 Discussions

  • Self-Reflection

1 Videos

  • Course Summary

Auto Summary

Explore the fascinating world of human senses with "Sensory Science: The Senses" on Coursera. This foundational course, led by experts, delves into the anatomy, physiology, and chemistry behind our sensory experiences. Over 780 minutes, you'll gain insights into taste, olfaction, touch, vision, and hearing, and assess cases like olfactory dysfunctions. Ideal for personal development, the course includes optional podcasts with sensory research experts. Available with a Starter subscription, it's perfect for anyone eager to understand how our senses work.

Rebecca Bleibaum
Instructor

Rebecca Bleibaum