The Benefits of Self-Motion for Visual Perception

我们的视觉系统是如何将照射到视网膜上的光线模式转换成有意义的物体和运动的三维世界的？在过去的几十年里，我们对大脑功能的理解取得了巨大的进步。然而，视觉信息处理的基本计算和生物学原理仍然难以捉摸。像其他物种一样，我们人类不会简单地坐下来，被动地接受我们周围流动的感官数据。相反，我们通过在多个尺度上协调感觉加工和运动活动来积极地寻找有用的信息。这个项目的假设是，人类的视觉感知本质上是一个感觉运动过程，在这个过程中，观察者的行为起着关键的计算作用。为了调查这一假设，该项目汇集了来自荷兰（阿姆斯特丹自由大学的布伦纳博士）、美国（波士顿大学的鲁奇博士）和英国（卡迪夫大学的拉什顿博士）的研究人员，他们在分析人类不同类型的运动活动方面拥有重要的专业知识。这些研究人员和他们的团队将研究人们使用运动/本体感觉信号来完成视觉任务的机制。了解运动活动对感知的影响对于提高我们对视觉系统功能的认识至关重要。此外，了解我们的感觉和运动过程之间的相互作用将有助于我们在人工系统中复制这些机制。除了有可能促进我们对视觉感知的理解之外，这项研究还有几个更广泛的影响。许多以异常运动活动为特征的病理状况也表现为视觉障碍。理解行为在视觉信息的提取和处理中的作用，可以为这类视觉障碍提供潜在的治疗方法。此外，本研究的跨学科性质为培养学生提供了新的机会。通过与PI合作，波士顿大学的学生将有机会将实验和理论研究结合起来。

How does our visual system transform the light patterns impinging onto the retina into a meaningful three-dimensional world of objects and movement? Over the last few decades we have made enormous progress in our understanding of brain functions. Yet, the fundamental computational and biological principles underlying visual information processing remain elusive. Like other species, we humans do not simply sit back and passively accept the sensory data that flows around us. Instead, we actively seek out useful information by coordinating sensory processing with motor activity on multiple scales. The hypothesis of this project is that visual perception in humans is an intrinsically sensory-motor process, in which the observer's behavior plays a key computational role. To investigate this hypothesis, the project brings together researchers from the Netherlands (Dr. Brenner at VU University in Amsterdam), the US (Dr. Rucci at Boston University), and the UK (Dr. Rushton at Cardiff University), who have developed critical expertise on the analyses of different types of motor activities in humans. These researchers and their teams will investigate the mechanisms by which people use motor/proprioceptive signals to accomplish visual tasks. Understanding the impact motor activity has on perception is critical to advancing our knowledge of how the visual system functions. Additionally, understanding the interplay between our senses and motor processes will help us to replicate those mechanisms in artificial systems. In addition to the potential for advancing our understanding of visual perception, this research also has several broader impacts. Many pathological conditions that feature abnormal motor activity also present visual impairments. Understanding the role of behavior in the extraction and processing of visual information could point towards potential treatments for such visual impairments. Furthermore, the interdisciplinary nature of this research offers new opportunities for training students. By collaborating with the PI, students at Boston University will have an opportunity to combine experimental and theoretical research.