Oxford University Press is a department of the University of Oxford. It furthers the University's objective of excellence in research, scholarship, and education by publishing worldwide.

Click to enlarge

Price: $147.95

Format:
Hardback 552 pp.
368 figures; 130 photographs; 24 tables, 8 1/2" x 11"

ISBN-10:
0195433750

ISBN-13:
9780195433753

Copyright Year:
2011

Imprint: OUP Canada

Share on Facebook

Fundamentals of Sensory Perception

Avi Chaudhuri

This comprehensive introduction to the senses explains how physical stimuli are transformed into signals in the nervous system and how the brain uses those signals to understand the world. Whereas most texts in the field begin by covering vision, this trailblazing work offers students a solid grounding in the principles of perceptual measurement and the biological mechanisms that make perception possible before introducing the somatosensory and then the olfactory system. This innovative presentation ensures that students have a firm grasp of the basics before they approach the complexities of hearing and vision, making Fundamentals of Sensory Perception an indispensable introduction to sensation and perception.

Readership : Undergraduate college and university students enrolled in sensation and perception courses, neuroscience programs with courses on sensory biology, and allied fields in the health sciences where fundamental knowledge of biological and behavioural aspects of sensory perception is required.

Reviews

"A fresh and modern look at sensory processing. . . a pleasure to read. I particularly enjoyed that the book did not begin with the visual system, as virtually every other book does. The introductory chapter explains some difficult psychophysical concepts very well."

--Stephen G. Lomber, University of Western Ontario
"A good mix of history, biology, and psychology [with] better coverage of psychophysics and the physiology of each sensory system than any other book currently available."

--Deborah Giaschi, University of British Columbia
"Reading the author's foreword convinced me that it might be a better choice to start lecturing first about the chemical senses before attacking the more complex (and better studied) modalities of vision and audition!"

--Alan Stocker, University of Pennsylvania
"Very engaging, well-organized, and thought-provoking. Frankly, I haven't found any weaknesses. The explanations of difficult topics in this text are perfect for students who may not be mathematically or natural sciences oriented (without sacrificing rigor). Sensation and Perception is a fun and important psychological topic. This text captures and conveys this well."

--Steven W. Horowitz, Central Connecticut State University

Brief contents
Contents
Advanced Sections
Features at a Glance
Preface
1. Principles of Perceptual Measurement
A. Scientific Basis of Perceptual Measurement
B. Classical Psychophysics
C. Modern Psychophysics
2. Biological Foundations of Sensory Perception
A. Organization of the Nervous System
B. Brain Function at the Cellular Level
C. Techniques for Studying Brain Function
3. The Somatosensory System - Touch, Feeling, and Pain
A. Neural Basis of Somatosensory Perception
B. Perceptual Aspects of Tactile Sensation
C. Proprioception and Kinesthesis
D. Nociception and Pain
4. The Chemosensory Systems - Taste and Smell
A. General Characteristics of Chemosensory Perception
B. The Gustatory System - Biological Mechanisms
C. The Gustatory System - Perceptual Characteristics
D. The Olfactory System - Biological Mechanisms
E. The Olfactory System - Perceptual Characteristics
5. The Auditory System - Sound and the Ear
A. The Physics of Sound
B. Auditory Processing of Sound - Physical Characteristics
C. Auditory Processing of Sound - Biological Mechanisms
D. Auditory Dysfunction
6. The Auditory System - Perceptual Aspects of Hearing
A. Intensity and Loudness
B. Frequency and Pitch
C. Auditory Space Perception
7. The Auditory System - Music and Speech Perception
A. Music Perception
B. Speech Perception
8. The Visual System - Light, Optics, and the Eye
A. The Nature of Light
B. The Eye
C. Optical Disorders of the Eye
9. The Visual System - Retinal Processing and Early Vision
A. The Photoreceptor Array
B. Neural Processing in the Retina
C. Perceptual Aspects of Retinal Function
10. The Visual System - Cortical Processing and Object Perception
A. The Retinal Projection to the Brain
B. The Primary Visual Cortex
C. Higher Cortical Functions and Object Perception
11. The Visual System - Colour Perception
A. Colour Science
B. Biological Aspects of Colour Vision
C. Perceptual Aspects of Colour
12. The Visual System - Depth Perception and Stereopsis
A. Extrapersonal Space
B. Monocular Depth Perception
C. Binocular Depth Perception
13. The Visual System - Motion Perception, Eye Movements, and Action
A. Fundamental Aspects of Motion Processing
B. Perceptual Aspects of Motion
C. Eye Movements
D. Action and Perception
Glossary
References
Credits
Name index
Subject index

Instructor's Manual:
Chapter Outlines
Learning Objectives
Lecture Suggestions
List of Activities
Exercises
Further Readings
Transition notes for instructors switching from a vision-first approach.
Test Generator with over 1100 questions, including multiple choice, short answer, and essay questions.
PowerPoint Slides provide instructors with a dynamic way to present salient points from the book to their students.
Annotated Image Bank includes every figure from the text in JPEG format with notes explaining the relevance of the figures.
Student Study Guide:
Study Questions
Further Readings
Chapter Outlines
Learning Objectives
Sample Mid-Term Test and Final Exam

Avi Chaudhuri joined McGill University in 1993 and was appointed to the prestigious James McGill Chair in Psychology in 2002. Specializing in the molecular biology of vision and visual psychophysics, professor Chaudhuri obtained his PhD in visual sciences and psychophysics from UC-Berkley. He is a frequent attendee and keynote speaker at psychological conferences around the world. Fundamentals of Sensory Perception will be his first book.

A Dictionary of Psychology - Andrew M. Colman
A Student's Dictionary of Psychology - Nicky Hayes and Peter Stratton

Special Features

Unique and accessible organization. Opening chapters explore touch and the chemical senses before moving on to auditory systems and vision. This structure allows students to gradually build their knowledge about sensation and perception before tackling more complex and challenging concepts.
Extensive figures and illustrations. With a multitude of figures, tables, and photos, this text offers the most brilliant art program currently available. Each figure and illustration has been carefully chosen to ensure it best represents crucial subject matter.
Accessible. Careful attention has been paid to ensure the language and tone throughout the text is suitable for introductory perception students
Balanced coverage of classic and contemporary material. The most current research, references, and examples have been integrated into a historical narrative that tells the story of how important concepts were discovered, offering students the perfect mix of classic content and cutting-edge information.
Extensive box program. Engaging boxes are integrated throughout to pique student interest and provide additional information.
Portraits and Side notes identify key figures, essential theories, and noteworthy topics from the history of perceptual research.
Investigation boxes provide suggestions for fun, easy-to-conduct experiments
Methodology boxes focus on specific research projects - past and present - that demonstrate how the principles discussed in the text can be put into practice.
Vibrant. Full-colour design throughout brings concepts to life.
Authoritative. Avi Chaudhuri has taught widely in both Canada and the United States over the past 30 years and his vast experience in both education and research is reflected in the text, making this an indispensable introduction to the field.