Chapter 1: Introduction
Signal to Noise: Photography with long shutter has good SNR, rapid shutter freezes motion but has low SNR.
Thresholds: Detecting quiet sounds shows a ROC curve. We can change the volume to influence discriminability. We can use rewards or punishment to influence criterion. (ROCui Matlab script)
Frequencies: We can take a sharp (focused) and blurry (unfocused) image of the same scene to show low frequencies. We can compute the difference between these two images to reveal the high frequencies (edges). We can add the edges to the sharp image to enhance edges (sharpening). [bmp_unsharpmask Matlab script].
We can measure neural conduction time by using transcranial magnetic stimulation [TMS] to cause a finger movement. We can then measure the motor evoke potential to see the transmission delay time from the brain to the finger.
Chapter 2: Light to neural signals
Focal length and aperture: We can make pin hole cameras with different focal lengths (camera body caps with holes drilled in the center, lens adapters provide different focal length). We can adjust the aperture of a lens to reveal different depth of field and light transmission.
Chapter 3: Spots to stripes
Chapter 4: Object Recognition
Chapter 5: Color
Extra sensory perception: We can see how a camera responds to color. By removing the hot mirror we can show that the camera has been limited to mimic the human eye.
Isomers: purple vs violet
Chapter 6: Space perception, binocular vision
Binocular rivalry
Chapter 7: Attention and scene perception
Visual search: feature vs conjunction
Neglect: egocentric vs allocentric
Chapter 8: Motion perception
The color wagon wheel shows that motions perception is color blind - isoluminant stimuli modulate our perception. Here is another version
Saccadic suppression: look at your eyes in the mirror - shift gaze from left to right eyes: note you only sees your eyes when they are still. Watch someone else doing this to see what you are missing.
Chapter 9: Physiology of hearing
The Auditory Neuroscience has terrific demos for all the hearing chapters.
Foley and Matlin have a nice demonstration of binaural beats
Age and high frequency (Presbycusis): mosquito tone to drive away teenagers, cell phone rings
that professors can not hear.
Chapter 10: Hearing in the environment
The Auditory Neuroscience has terrific demos for all the hearing chapters.
Interaural time and loudness practical demonstrating (requires Matlab)
Chapter 11: Music and speech perception
The Auditory Neuroscience has terrific demos for all the hearing chapters.
Try the Octave illusion
Chapter 12: Spatial orientation and the vestibular system
Wagging your finger versus wagging your head (see book chapter)
Caloric stimulation (requires expertise)
Chapter 13: Touch
Foley and Matlin describe several demonstrations with touch.
Two point discrimination
Rubber hand illusion
Chapter 14: Olfaction
Le Nez du Vin includes 54 smells often identified in wines. Can you identify these smells without any other context?
http://www.ted.com/talks/tristram_wyatt_the_smelly_mystery_of_the_human_pheromone
Chapter 15: Taste
Gymnema Sylvestre tea can (temporarily) abolish your sense of sweet taste.
Are you a super taster? Can you taste PROP?
Foley and Matlin describe some elegant taste and smell demonstrations