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Visual Perception and the Brain
  • Level Foundation
  • Duration 14 hours
  • Course by Duke University
  • Offered by

About

Learners will be introduced to the problems that vision faces, using perception as a guide. The course will consider how what we see is generated by the visual system, what the central problem for vision is, and what visual perception indicates about how the brain works. The evidence will be drawn from neuroscience, psychology, the history of vision science and what philosophy has contributed. Although the discussions will be informed by visual system anatomy and physiology, the focus is on perception. We see the physical world in a strange way, and goal is to understand why.

Modules

Course Information

    • 1 Videos
    • 2 Readings
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1 Videos

  • Course Introduction

2 Readings

  • About the Course
  • Grading Policy

What We Actually See

    • 5 Videos
    • 1 Assignment
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1 Assignment

  • Module1, Topic 1

5 Videos

  • Background: What We Actually See
  • The Strange Way We See the Physical World (part 1)
  • The Strange Way We See the Physical World (part 2)
  • The Inverse Problem
  • Summary of Topic One

Visual Stimuli

    • 3 Videos
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3 Videos

  • Visual Stimuli
  • Making an Image
  • Summary of Topic Two

Organization of the Human Visual System

    • 11 Videos
    • 1 Assignment
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1 Assignment

  • Module 1, Topics 2-3

11 Videos

  • The Eye (part 1)
  • The Eye (part 2)
  • The Retina (part 1)
  • The Retina (Part 2)
  • The Primary Visual Pathway (part 1)
  • The Primary Visual Pathway (part 2)
  • The Visual Cortex (part 1)
  • The Visual Cortex (part 2)
  • The Concept of Receptive Fields
  • Summary of Topic Three
  • Summary of Module One

Seeing Lightness and Darkness

    • 6 Videos
    • 1 Assignment
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1 Assignment

  • Module 2, Topic 1

6 Videos

  • Definitions
  • Discrepancies between Luminance and Lightness
  • More Complex Examples as Counter Evidence
  • An Empirical Explanation Based on Accumulated Experience (part 1)
  • An Empirical Explanation Based on Accumulated Experience (part 2)
  • Summary of Topic One

Seeing Color

    • 11 Videos
    • 1 Assignment
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1 Assignment

  • Module 2, Topic 2

11 Videos

  • Definitions
  • Light and Color
  • How the Retina Initiates Color Vision (part 1)
  • How the Retina Initiates Color Vision (part 2)
  • Why Do We Have Color Vision?
  • Describing Color Perception
  • The Strange Way We See Color
  • An Empirical Answer (part 1)
  • An Empirical Answer (part 2)
  • Topic Summary
  • Module Summary

Seeing Geometry

    • 10 Videos
    • 1 Assignment
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1 Assignment

  • Module 3, Topic 1

10 Videos

  • Geometrical “Illusions”
  • The Inverse Problem in Geometry
  • Seeing the Length of Lines
  • An Empirical Explanation of Apparent Line Length (part 1)
  • An Empirical Explanation of Apparent Line Length (part 2)
  • The Perception of Angles
  • An Empirical Explanation
  • Seeing Object Size
  • An Empirical Explanation
  • Topic Summary

Seeing Distance and Depth

    • 9 Videos
    • 1 Assignment
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1 Assignment

  • Module 3, Topic 2

9 Videos

  • Definitions
  • Seeing Distance with One Eye
  • Seeing Depth with Two Eyes (Stereopsis, part 1)
  • Seeing Depth with Two Eyes (Stereopsis, part 2)
  • Explaining Stereopsis
  • Random Dot Stereograms and the Correspondence Problem
  • Binocular Fusion (part 1)
  • Binocular Fusion (part 2)
  • Topic Summary

Seeing Motion

    • 9 Videos
    • 1 Assignment
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1 Assignment

  • Module 4

9 Videos

  • Definitions
  • Phenomena that Need Explaining
  • Apparent Motion
  • Motion After Effects
  • The Inverse Problem for Motion
  • Perceived Speed: The Flash-Lag Effect
  • An Empirical Explanation of the Flash-Lag Effect
  • Perceived Direction: Aperture Effects
  • An Empirical Explanation

Alternative Conceptions of Vision

    • 8 Videos
    • 1 Assignment
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1 Assignment

  • Module 5, Topic 1

8 Videos

  • Alternative Conceptions of Vision
  • Vision as Feature Detection (part 1)
  • Vision as Feature Detection (part 2)
  • Vision as Inference (part 1)
  • Vision as Inference (part 2)
  • Vision as Efficient Coding
  • Vision as Way of Contending with the Inverse Problem
  • Topic Summary

What Vision Implies About How the Brain Works

    • 3 Videos
    • 1 Assignment
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1 Assignment

  • Module 5, Topic 2

3 Videos

  • Does the Brain Work by Computing?
  • Or is the Brain an Engine of Reflex Associations?
  • Some Concluding Remarks

Peer Review

    • 1 PeerReview
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1 Peer Review

  • Peer Review

Auto Summary

Immerse yourself in the fascinating study of "Visual Perception and the Brain," a foundational course in the Science & Engineering domain. Designed for curious minds, this course delves into the intricate challenges of vision through the lens of perception. You'll explore how our visual system constructs the reality we see, uncover the central issues of vision, and understand what visual perception reveals about brain function. Drawing from diverse fields such as neuroscience, psychology, the history of vision science, and philosophy, the course provides a comprehensive understanding of visual perception. While anatomical and physiological aspects of the visual system are discussed, the primary focus remains on perception. Offered by Coursera, this course spans approximately 840 minutes of engaging content. Learners can choose between Starter and Professional subscription plans to access the course materials. Ideal for those at the foundation level, this course is perfect for anyone keen to unravel the mysteries of how we perceive the physical world in such unique ways.

Dale Purves
Instructor

Dale Purves