"The Best Visual illusion of the Year Contest is a celebration of the ingenuity and creativity of the world's premier visual illusion research community. Contestants from all around the world will submit novel visual illusions (unpublished, or published no earlier than 2009), and an international panel of judges will rate them and narrow them to the TOP TEN. At the Contest Gala in the Naples Philharmonic Center for the Arts, the top ten illusionists will present their creations and the attendees of the event (that means YOU!) will vote to pick the TOP THREE WINNERS!"

http://illusioncontest.neuralcorrelate.com/

Illusion of sex 3rd place winner....

"The Bioacoustics Research Program (BRP) is a unit within the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. BRP develops digital recording  equipment, computer software, and algorithms that are used by scientists around the world to study animal communication and to monitor the health of wildlife populations. BRP is also pioneering new techniques for censusing and tracking wildlife with arrays of microphones placed in natural environments around the globe."

http://www.birds.cornell.edu/brp/

What are they up to in this lab? What is the science of sound? Why is it important to study sounds? How does this relate to SP?

Also see - http://speakingoffaith.publicradio.org/

What do we know about the physics of hot sauce? What makes it hot? Why do people eat it? How does it interact with the tounge? This site doesn't answer these questions , however itis a good starting point. In fact you might try one of the recipes and do a bit of introspection of your own...

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/01/25/amazing-hot-sauce-recipes_n_428621.html

As we have done already - after reading chapter 3 in Visual Intelligence, go through your text and find out how the text discusses the material in the reader and any additional detail it might offer. You will need to turn in a mind map in class on Tuesday so it might be a good idea to make a mind map before you start the next part of this project.

Try to adhere to the format below - keep the numbering for organization.

1) Discuss what you read in the reader. Think about what you learned from the reader. What were the main points the author was trying to make? What were some examples he used? What was the most interesting part of the chapter - etc.?  Don't simply answer these questions; these are just some things to ask yourself before you start writing. I am pretty open to what you write about.

2) Discuss what you read in your text. How did the author of your text book go about addressing the related material? What did you find out about the topic that wasn't covered in the reader? What did you find interesting that was presented in the text? How difficult was it to find the related material in the text? Again don't specifically answer these questions, just use them as a way to think about the material. Feel free to experiment with your own style.

3) After you have had a chance to think about the material - what parts do you think you will remember and what parts do you think might fade from memory sooner.

4) Make a list of the terms and terminology you used in this post.

This is a new task for you so I don't expect it to be perfect. I do expect that you do your best. I will give you feedback that you can use to do better in future assignments. Thus you get credit for doing - not qualitatively.

I haven't found a good lateralization experiment online as of yet. So go to http://www.psych.uni.edu/psychexps/Exps/labexperiments.htm and pick a study that interests you and is related to sensation and perception. Participate in the experiment and then report your experiences here.

Please try to adhere to the following format if you can and use the numbering for organization.

1) Brief introduction - As with a research article (remember back to your research methods class) write a brief intro to the experiment. Use terms and terminology for the reader, your text, the online site, and any other information relevant to the experiment. Remember to cite your sources. You don't need a references section, I just want to get an idea of where your information is coming from.

2) Write what you think the hypothesis of the experiment is.

3) Write a method section (again think about what you learned in research methods class).

4) Write a results section (it is OK if it is only descriptive statics from your run).

5) Write a discussion section (include at the end how this relates to sensation & perception).

6) Make a list of the terms and terminology you used in your write up that relate to sensation & perception.

"NASA's HiRISE camera, the most powerful camera ever sent into space, has snapped breathtaking portraits of Mars. From 'trees' on Mars to an 'organic cemetery,' see the 'Red Planet's' craters, dunes, gullies, and even avalanches in stunning detail in the slideshow below."

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/01/21/mars-pictures-nasas-most_n_431137.html

How does the brain resolve ambiguity? Experience this for yourself when you watch this slide show. Use a little introspection and 'watch' how your brain tries to go about it's job making sense of the extraordinary pictures in this slide show.

My sister sends some pretty interesting forwards. How is this a good example of relative size?

The caption in the forward said Dog for Sale - Can't afford to feed him...

For this web divergence I would like you to find some web material that relates to what we have been reading about in our reader. I would like you to integrate what our reader and text discuss in relation to the site. When you write about the site, 1) Discuss in general what the site is about, 2) discuss why you chose this particular aspect of what we have been covering, 3) discuss how the web site uses the material - how it supports or extends what we have learned, 4) how does the reader present the material (what does it say about the material), 5) How does your text handle the material (what does it say), and 6) After reading the three sources of information, what do you now have to say about the particular topic you chose.

When you develop your comment for your homework please use the numbering system above for organization sake.

Take care,

--Dr. M 

For this homework I would like you to go to the urls below and participate in the cow eye dissection.

You can watch the dissection or you can do your own for more class credit if you like. If you film your own dissection and post it you will get more class credit.

Watch: http://www.exploratorium.edu/learning_studio/cow_eye/step01.html

You can do your own using any eyeball you want - fish, cow, etc...

Do: http://www.exploratorium.edu/learning_studio/cow_eye/doit.html

I would the like you to post a narrative type comment in the following format: 1) briefly discuss how your text book presents the relevant information about the eye (use facts and paraphrase the material), 2) do the web activity, 3) post in a narrative format your experience with the activity, and 4) Discuss how well the web site kept its facts and figures correct in relation to the material in your text book.

(Basically I want you to spend equal time in your text book and in the web. I would like you to use the terminology they are using in the book to teach you about the eye in your post. The sort of fact check the site to make sure it is consistent with your text - I am sure they are, but you will need to discuss this. This will take some time, so be prepared to spend it on this homework).

You can turn this in before Friday - if you are going to use a real eye I'll give you more time.

Let me know if you have any questions,

--Dr. M

"This seems like a harmless tube. In fact, it was harmless: Israeli farmers used the first version to scare birds from crop fields. Then, somebody converted it into a crowd dispersion mechanism. And then, they discovered it could kill."

http://gizmodo.com/5451357/sound-generator-could-kill-humans-at-ten-meters

What are the physics of sound? There is a clip somewhere from myth busters where they tried to find the "brown note" how does that relate to this clip? The reader comments are pretty funny.

Brown note wiki : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brown_note

The two images below are widely available on the web but not attributed to any particular source. In the top image, do you perceive the balls as resting on the checkerboard in a diagonal line? But in the bottom image, as the three balls on the right floating, each a little higher than the one before?

http://serendip.brynmawr.edu/bb/ballshadow/

Most people assume that what you see is pretty much what your eye sees and reports to your brain. In fact, your brain adds very substantially to the report it gets from your eye, so that a lot of what you see is actually "made up" by the brain (see Seeing more than your eye does).

http://serendip.brynmawr.edu/bb/latinhib.html

Most people (even many who work on the brain) assume that what you see is pretty much what your eye sees and reports to your brain. In fact, your brain adds very substantially to the report it gets from your eye, so that a lot of what you see is actually "made up" by the brain.

http://serendip.brynmawr.edu/bb/blindspot1.html

Also see : http://serendip.brynmawr.edu/bb/blindspot/

for an Applet that allows you to map you blind spot.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/picturegalleries/howaboutthat/6988398/The-worlds-tallest-man-Sultan-Kosen-and-the-shortest-man-in-the-world-He-Pingping-meet.html

How does this relate to size constancy? What does this tell us about relative size? Does the tall guy make the small guy look smaller - or the other way around? Guess the heights of each person - did one influence the guess the other?

Jimmy Fallon broke out his spot-on Neil Young impression last night for a heart wrenching rendition of "Pants On The Ground." The tune, penned by 62-year-old "American Idol" contestant General Larry Platt, has been making the rounds this week due to ridiculous lyrics like "Pants on the ground / Lookin' like a fool with your pants on the ground!" But coming out of Neil Young's emotional voice, those words never sounded more poignant.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/01/15/pants-on-the-ground-neil_n_424468.html

This was just fun to watch. How is it that two people can sing the same song and have it come out so different? Does Fallon do a good impression of Young? How is our brain fooled by good impressions?

Two postdoctoral research positions are available to study retinal neurobiology in the lab of Dr. Stuart Mangel at the Ohio State University College of Medicine. We use the vertebrate retina, which is part of the brain, as a model system for understanding brain function and dysfunction due to its easy accessibility and well-characterized inputs. The postdocs will be able to work on one of two ongoing NIH-funded research projects. One project is investigating how the circadian (24-hour) clock in the retina modulates cellular and molecular processes and chemical and electrical synaptic transmission in the day and night (e.g. see Ribelayga, Cao and Mangel, 2008, Neuron). The other project is studying the cellular, subcellular (e.g. ion and neurotransmitter transporters; GABA and ACh receptors), and neural network mechanisms that underlie 1) the detection of the direction in which objects move (e.g. see Gavrikov, Nilson, Dmitriev, Zucker and Mangel, 2006, PNAS), and 2) how light and dark adaptation modulate the receptive field surround. We employ a multidisciplinary approach for these projects, utilizing genetically modified animal models, and electrophysiological, cell/molecular, neurochemical, anatomical, and computational techniques.

We seek highly motivated individuals with a Ph.D. in neuroscience or a related basic science discipline for these positions. Previous training in electrophysiology, especially patch-clamp recording, is desirable, but not required. Salary is NIH-scale and commensurate with experience, and benefits are included. The starting dates of the positions are flexible. A minimum commitment of 2-3 years is desired. These positions represent unique opportunities for career development, for learning a variety of techniques to study brain function, and for interactions with other Ohio State University investigators.

To apply, please e-mail a single pdf file that contains 1) a 1-2 page letter that describes your research interests and experience, 2) your curriculum vitae, and 3) the names of three references, including their contact information, to Dr. Stuart Mangel (mangel.1 at osu.edu). Alternatively, application materials can be mailed or faxed to:

Stuart Mangel, Ph.D.

Professor

Department of Neuroscience

Ohio State University College of Medicine

333 W. 10th Avenue - 4198 Graves Hall

Columbus, OH 43210 U.S.A.

E-mail: mangel.1 at osu.edu

FAX: 614-292-5772

Webpage: http://biomed.osu.edu/neuroscience/4209.cfm

Ohio State University is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer.

What I would like you to do for this homework is to have some fun and find some websites of a topic that interests you and post it here as a comment. At this point I am not as concerned with exactly how you compose the actual post for this activity. I am more concerned that you have a meaningful experience searching out and learning about your topic.

Thanks. 

The neuroscience laboratory of Dr. Bart Krekelberg at Rutgers University, Newark has an opening for a Laboratory Technician.

The lab investigates the neural basis of visual perception using behavioral methods and functional imaging in humans, and single-cell recordings in awake, behaving monkeys.   The successful applicant will play a critical supporting role in all research projects and will enjoy working in a dynamic team.

The lab is located in downton Newark, New Jersey; a 20 minute subway ride from New York City.

Job Description

The successful applicant will carry out a range of duties to support the animal and human subject research of the laboratory.

Animal research: Trains animals in behavioral task; maintains animal health; assists in surgery; maintains equipment and recording rooms.

Human research: Recruits volunteers; documents the consent process; schedules sessions; performs computerized behavioral tests.

Other: General lab organization; maintains and documents the supply of laboratory consumables and equipment; updates research protocols; performs related duties as assigned.

Job Requirements

A background in a scientific field is required, as are strong computer skills and an ability to solve technical problems independently. Research experiences in a non-human primate and/or human research laboratory are a plus. The applicant will be required to participate in occupational health and safety programs and will be required to pass pre-employment and periodic physical examinations. Must have the ability to lift and move up to 75 pounds; must be able to produce written reports of completed work and procedures.

Salary will be commensurate with experience, in the 32k-55k$ p.a. range. Rutgers University is an equal opportunity, affirmative action institution; underrepresented minorities are encouraged to apply.

For more information about the lab: http://vision.rutgers.edu

To apply, please send curriculum vitae and the name and contact details of two references to Bart Krekelberg (bart@rutgers.edu)

---

Bart Krekelberg

Rutgers University

197 University Avenue

Newark NJ 07102

USA

T: +1 973 353 3602

F: +1 973 273 4803

E: bart@rutgers.edu

W: vision.rutgers.edu

Welcome to Super Senses!

Our sense organs link us with the outside world.

They take in information and send it to the brain. Here it's deciphered and turned into something meaningful.

We communicate through our sense organs - touching, seeing, hearing, tasting and smelling.

http://www.youramazingbrain.org/supersenses/default.htm#

Snacks, Overeating, and Sensory Science

Got a weakness for chocolate chip cookies? Kettle chips? Pizza? Ira talks with former FDA commissioner David Kessler about how tasty foods change your brain, and how the food industry designs the fat, salt, and sugar-laden snacks you crave. Kessler, the former head of the FDA during the Bush and Clinton administrations, is the author of the new book "The End of Overeating: Taking Control of the Insatiable American Appetite." Is overeating a lack of willpower, or a disease?

http://www.sciencefriday.com/program/archives/200907106

(there is a little slide bar on the upper left that you need to click on)

How do 3D televisions work to 'fool' our visual system into believing a flat surface is mulitidimensional?

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/01/06/3d-tv-lg-to-introduce-3d-_n_413390.html

What do we know about perception that might make up believe her leg was photoshopped off?

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/01/06/emma-watson-for-burberrys_n_413731.html

How does Gestalt theory relate to this dance group?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6GrOMLylvhQ

What sounds did you search for? What suinds did you find most interesting? Why?

www.findsounds.com

What is it about the visual system that makes this look real? Why doesn't the visual system discount the fact that the snake is too big to be real?