Integrating Spatial and Temporal Models of Visual Attention

人类的视觉系统使用注意力来增强对生存至关重要的信息的处理。例如，在高速公路上行驶时，道路上突然出现的碎片会导致视觉系统迅速定位到障碍物，以便进行避让。注意力同时在空间和时间上定位；它锁定在物体的位置，也锁定在物体变得可见的那一刻。目前，还没有被广泛接受的理论来描述空间和时间因素在注意力控制中是如何相互作用的。为了建立这样的理论，怀布尔博士将在行为和脑电研究的基础上，建立注意力的空间和时间控制的计算模型。这个模型将模拟控制注意力的神经机制，从而导致理论和神经科学的更紧密耦合。从这项研究中获得的知识将通过将来自空间和时间领域的现有理论结合到一个单一的框架中来提供一个更简单的注意力模型。这个框架将帮助我们理解为什么注意力是这样工作的，也有助于我们理解为什么注意力有时会失败。这项工作最终可能会在许多领域得到应用，包括交通安全和盲人视觉假肢。此外，这项工作将包括开发计算机编程教程，旨在增加对传统STEM领域以外的学生的STEM培训。

The human visual system uses attention to enhance the processing of information that is important for survival. For example, while driving on a highway, the sudden appearance of debris in the road will cause the visual system to rapidly orient towards the obstacle in order to allow avoidance. Attention orients in both space and time; it locks on to the location of the object, and also to the moment the object becomes visible. Currently, there is no well-accepted theory to describe how spatial and temporal factors interact in the control of attention. In order to create such a theory, Dr. Wyble will create a computational model of the spatial and temporal control of attention based on behavioral and EEG studies. This model will simulate the neural mechanisms that control attention and will thereby lead to a tighter coupling of theory and neuroscience. The knowledge to be gained from this research will provide a simpler model of attention by combining existing theories from the spatial and temporal domains into a single framework. This framework will help us to understand why attention works in the way that it does, and also to understand why attention sometimes fails. The work may ultimately have applications in many areas, including transportation safety and visual prostheses for the blind. In addition, the work will include the development of a computer-programming tutorial aimed at increasing STEM training for students outside of traditional STEM fields.