1 SWS Lecture (VO)
Total workload 45h: 14 h contact / 31 h background reading

1 SWS Seminar (SE)
Total workload 45h: 14 h contact / 15 h background reading / 16 h preparation and presentation

2 SWS Supervised excercise (UE)
Total workload 90h: 10 h contact / 20 h literature search / 60 h work on essay paper

Recommended previous knowledge/skills: Basics of Neurosensory Science and Behavioural Biology

++ Neurosci. knowlg
+ Expt. methods
++ Scient. Literature
+ Social skills
++ Interdiscipl. knowlg
++ Data present./disc.
++ Scientific English
+ Ethics

Introduction to Auditory Physiology. May serve as preparation for a Research Module in this area.

Upon successful completion of this course, students

• have profound knowledge on auditory sensory processing at several levels (including cochlear transduction mechanisms, central auditory processing) 
• have basic knowledge of the large range of techniques used in auditory research
• are able to read and critically report to others on an original research paper in auditory neuroscience
• are able to research and review a specific topic in auditory neuroscience

One week introductory block course, comprised of a lecture series and matching seminar that emphasizes discussion.
Topics: 
Hair cells: structure, transduction mechanism, receptor potential, synaptic transmission
Basilar papilla / cochlea: structure, micromechanics, amplification; otoacoustic emissions
Auditory nerve: phase locking, rate coding. Excitation patterns
Ascending auditory pathways: wiring, principles of excitation/inhibition, examples of cellular/molecular specialisations
Sound localisation in birds and mammals
Central auditory processing: imaging techniques, auditory streams, cortex, primates
Relation between psychophysics and neurophysiology

The introductory block is followed by a supervised literature search and individually written term paper on a specific topic in auditory neuroscience.

About 20 selected original papers (selection varies)
Pickles JO (2012) An Introduction to the Physiology of Hearing. Brill, Netherlands

BM neu211 "Neurosensory Science and Behaviour" 
or BM neu270 "Neurocognition and Psychophysics" 
or skills module biox "Current Topics in Hearing Science" 

Registration procedure / selection criteria: StudIP, final acceptance after assignment of seminar presentation

within a few weeks of the end of summer term lecture period

term paper
In addition, mandatory but ungraded: 1 paper presentation in seminar, active participation in discussions