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.
Offered By
Duke University
Syllabus - What you will learn from this course
Week
14 hours to complete
Background
20 videos (Total 131 min), 2 readings, 2 quizzes
20 videos
Background: What We Actually See3m
The Strange Way We See the Physical World (part 1)8m
The Strange Way We See the Physical World (part 2)7m
The Inverse Problem7m
Summary of Topic One2m
Visual Stimuli4m
Making an Image5m
Summary of Topic Two1m
The Eye (part 1)10m
The Eye (part 2)4m
The Retina (part 1)7m
The Retina (Part 2)12m
The Primary Visual Pathway (part 1)10m
The Primary Visual Pathway (part 2)8m
The Visual Cortex (part 1)12m
The Visual Cortex (part 2)11m
The Concept of Receptive Fields4m
Summary of Topic Three2m
Summary of Module One1m
2 readings
About the Course10m
Grading Policy10m
2 practice exercises
Module1, Topic 128m
Module 1, Topics 2-340m
Week
23 hours to complete
Seeing Lightness, Darkness and Color
17 videos (Total 116 min), 2 quizzes
17 videos
Discrepancies between Luminance and Lightness12m
More Complex Examples as Counter Evidence8m
An Empirical Explanation Based on Accumulated Experience (part 1)7m
An Empirical Explanation Based on Accumulated Experience (part 2)9m
Summary of Topic One2m
Definitions2m
Light and Color8m
How the Retina Initiates Color Vision (part 1)9m
How the Retina Initiates Color Vision (part 2)7m
Why Do We Have Color Vision?3m
Describing Color Perception12m
The Strange Way We See Color10m
An Empirical Answer (part 1)7m
An Empirical Answer (part 2)4m
Topic Summary3m
Module Summary24s
2 practice exercises
Module 2, Topic 126m
Module 2, Topic 240m
Week
34 hours to complete
Seeing Space
19 videos (Total 129 min), 2 quizzes
19 videos
The Inverse Problem in Geometry3m
Seeing the Length of Lines5m
An Empirical Explanation of Apparent Line Length (part 1)9m
An Empirical Explanation of Apparent Line Length (part 2)5m
The Perception of Angles5m
An Empirical Explanation8m
Seeing Object Size6m
An Empirical Explanation10m
Topic Summary2m
Definitions1m
Seeing Distance with One Eye12m
Seeing Depth with Two Eyes (Stereopsis, part 1)7m
Seeing Depth with Two Eyes (Stereopsis, part 2)5m
Explaining Stereopsis8m
Random Dot Stereograms and the Correspondence Problem7m
Binocular Fusion (part 1)6m
Binocular Fusion (part 2)7m
Topic Summary1m
2 practice exercises
Module 3, Topic 142m
Module 3, Topic 246m
Week
42 hours to complete
Seeing Motion
9 videos (Total 55 min), 1 quiz
9 videos
Phenomena that Need Explaining1m
Apparent Motion5m
Motion After Effects3m
The Inverse Problem for Motion3m
Perceived Speed: The Flash-Lag Effect7m
An Empirical Explanation of the Flash-Lag Effect9m
Perceived Direction: Aperture Effects8m
An Empirical Explanation12m
1 practice exercise
Module 444m
Week
54 hours to complete
Summing Up
11 videos (Total 67 min), 3 quizzes
11 videos
Vision as Feature Detection (part 1)11m
Vision as Feature Detection (part 2)4m
Vision as Inference (part 1)3m
Vision as Inference (part 2)7m
Vision as Efficient Coding8m
Vision as Way of Contending with the Inverse Problem2m
Topic Summary2m
Does the Brain Work by Computing?6m
Or is the Brain an Engine of Reflex Associations?10m
Some Concluding Remarks5m
2 practice exercises
Module 5, Topic 140m
Module 5, Topic 212m
4.7
40 Reviews67%
started a new career after completing these courses
40%
got a tangible career benefit from this course
Top reviews from Visual Perception and the Brain
The course has got everything clearly conveyed and has enabled me (not at all familiar with the topic) to understand the major points. Thanks very much for offering it~
Very interesting MOOC. The instructor is very knowledgeable in the area and uses interesting examples to explain the content.
Instructor
Dale Purves
M.D.Duke Institute for Brain Sciences
About Duke University
Duke University has about 13,000 undergraduate and graduate students and a world-class faculty helping to expand the frontiers of knowledge. The university has a strong commitment to applying knowledge in service to society, both near its North Carolina campus and around the world.
Frequently Asked Questions
When will I have access to the lectures and assignments?
Once you enroll for a Certificate, you’ll have access to all videos, quizzes, and programming assignments (if applicable). Peer review assignments can only be submitted and reviewed once your session has begun. If you choose to explore the course without purchasing, you may not be able to access certain assignments.
What will I get if I purchase the Certificate?
When you purchase a Certificate you get access to all course materials, including graded assignments. Upon completing the course, your electronic Certificate will be added to your Accomplishments page - from there, you can print your Certificate or add it to your LinkedIn profile. If you only want to read and view the course content, you can audit the course for free.
What is the refund policy?
Is financial aid available?
Will I receive a transcript from Duke University for completing this course?
No. Completion of a Coursera course does not earn you academic credit from Duke; therefore, Duke is not able to provide you with a university transcript. However, your electronic Certificate will be added to your Accomplishments page - from there, you can print your Certificate or add it to your LinkedIn profile.
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