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Further information on which modules are specific to your programme.

Module description

Predators and their prey are engaged in a relentless evolutionary arms race. A hunting bat must detect and intercept a moth in darkness; a fish must decide in milliseconds whether to flee or freeze; a frog’s tongue must strike with perfect timing to capture its prey. These life-or-death encounters have driven the evolution of extraordinary neural systems, behaviours, and biomechanical solutions across the animal kingdom. In this module, we explore the neuroscience of these interactions. Think of it as natural history with microscopes and electrodes: dramatic animal behaviours familiar from wildlife documentaries, but examined through the lens of neuroscience and biomechanics. How does a nervous system detect danger, make a rapid decision, and generate precisely timed movement? What neural circuits allow animals to hunt effectively or escape at the last moment? Through case studies from primary literature and guided by an excellent textbook, students will investigate the neural, behavioural, and biomechanical adaptations that underlie predator-prey interactions. By examining these systems, students will uncover fundamental principles of neural and biomechanical organisation, and discover the remarkable diversity of evolutionary solutions to the universal problem of survival.

Intended learning outcomes

• demonstrate an appreciation how animals detect the presence of other animals, using senses such as vision, hearing, olfaction and special senses such as electric fields
• demonstrate an understanding of the neural basis of cost-benefit analyses regarding whether to attack or ignore (predators) or escape or freeze (prey)
• demonstrate an understanding of the neural and biomechanical mechanisms underlying the generation of extremely rapid responses
• demonstrate an appreciation the role of neurotoxins in predation and defence against predators