2009 Course Handbook
BBE300: Animal Communication (interdisciplinary unit)
Communication underpins all social behaviour. Research on animal signalling provides insights into sensory processes, decision-making and the factors determining success or failure in the struggle to reproduce. By cracking the code of signal systems such as birdsong and the complex calls of monkeys, we gain a window into other minds, and so refine our understanding of those traits that are uniquely human. This course reviews major current issues in the study of animal communication, taking a broadly integrative approach to cover evolution, development, function, and mechanism. No specific background is assumed; lectures are designed to be accessible to all students with sufficient prior study, although they particularly complement units in biology and psychology. Topics include: channels of communication, sensory systems, evolutionary origins of signals, design features of language and communication systems, learning to communicate, meaning, the problem of intentionality, manipulation and deception.
| Credit Points: | 4 |
| Contact Hours: | 3 |
| When Offered: | D2 - Day; Offered in the second half-year |
| Staff Contact: | Associate Professor Chris Evans |
| Prerequisites: | 40cp |
| Corequisites: | |
| NCCWs: | PSY324 |
| Unit Designations: | Science |
| Assessed As: | Graded |
| Offered By: |
Department of Brain, Behaviour and Evolution |
Timetable Information
For unit timetable information please visit the Timetables@Macquarie Website.