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H2020Staff exchange2017–2023

PLATYPUS · PLAsticiTY of Perceptual space Under Sensorimotor interactions

Horizon 2020 — Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions

Duration
2017-07-01 → 2023-04-30
EU contribution
€891,000
Participants
10
Scheme
MSCA-RISE

Lines connect the coordinator with its partners.

Results in brief

PLAsticiTY of Perceptual space Under Sensorimotor interactions

Space is a fundamental dimension of physical and perceptual reality. However, physical space and perceptual space are not the same. Although we experience space as a uniform physical entity around us, the properties of the sensory systems and of our behavior, as well as many visual illusions, clearly show that perceptual space is constructed by the brain and decoupled from its physical counterpart. Recent research has shown that visually perceived space is strongly influenced by eye movements and can thus be understood as part of an action-perception loop that is geared towards appropriate behavior to ensure survival. Past research has mostly considered static conditions, in which a given motor act is performed and its impact on spatial perception is studied. The brain, however, is a learning machine. Outcomes of behavior almost always are used to update internal processes to adapt the system better to its environment. PLATYPUS investigates how visual space is shaped and maintained via adaptive interactions with eye- and arm movements. Research within PLATYPUS will lead to novel insights on the nature of perceptual space and a more complete view of spatial perception. These insights have strong potential for translation into applied fields. On the one hand, adaptive changes to visual perception and motor behavior occur whenever one needs to adjust to the wearing of new glasses, especially when they contain progressive lenses. Since all people develop presbyopia with age, and in about a fourth of the population presbyopia is co-morbid with myopia, this affects a large part of the population in the EU and elsewhere. On the other hand, PLATYPUS insights could potentially enhance the effectiveness and efficiency of applications employing virtual reality, be it in the private (e.g. gaming community) or in the public sector (e.g. health-care industries).

Data: CORDIS, © European Union

Project objective

Space is the foundational characteristic of visual perception and we generally perceive it as continuous and uniform. Behavioural measurements and the properties of our sensory systems however, demonstrate that this is an illusory situation and our percept is constructed by the brain. One example is our lack of awareness of the blind spot that exists in each eye. Space is non-uniformly represented in the visual brain and this representation is dynamically influenced by motor behaviour, in particular by eye movements. The PLATYPUS consortium will investigate the dynamic nature of spatial sensation and perception, focussing on the continuous mutual interaction of motor behaviour and perception. Our research objectives integrate human behavioural and cutting edge non-human primate electrophysiological research techniques and focus on translation of basic into applied research. Focussing on the adaptive nature of vision and action, strategies to perturb and probe perceptual space and geometry will allow measurement of spatial and geometrical perception in humans and the representation of such in non-human primates. This research will extend to applications for people wearing progressive lenses which distort action and space perception, patients with a blind area in their visual field and for virtual reality technology development. PLATYPUS researchers will grow existing and establish new collaborative teams, sharing research techniques, knowledge and mentoring between established and with upcoming researchers in academia and industry. Individuals will benefit from intense scientific and career development training while institutions will benefit from the exchange of state-of-the-art techniques. The ultimate outcome will be increased understanding of the continuously updating neural construction of space and the production of assistive technologies for people needing corrective lenses, with ocular or visual discontinuity and for the growing virtual reality industry.

Original text from CORDIS.

Participants

  • UNIVERSITAET MUENSTER · MuensterCoordinatorGermany
  • ALMA MATER STUDIORUM - UNIVERSITA DI BOLOGNA · BolognaItaly
  • CARL ZEISS VISION INTERNATIONAL GMBH · AalenGermany
  • MONASH UNIVERSITY · VictoriaAustralia
  • PHILIPPS UNIVERSITAET MARBURG · MarburgGermany
  • Simon Fraser University · BurnabyCanada
  • THE TRUSTEES OF BOSTON UNIVERSITY · BOSTON MAUnited States
  • UNIVERSITY OF HAMBURG · HamburgGermany
  • UNIVERSITY OF ROCHESTER · ROCHESTER NYUnited States
  • WESTERN SYDNEY UNVERSITY · WERRINGTON NSWAustralia

Links

Data: CORDIS, © European Union