Doctoral Dissertation Research: Neuroimaging Support for the Use of Audio to Represent Geospatial Location in Cartographic Design

这一博士论文研究项目将调查听觉地图符号系统的时间方面如何影响对地理空间地图可用一般信息的感知。该项目将加强对提供空间信息的时机如何影响听者理解该信息的能力的一般理解，并将有助于超越其传统视觉重点的制图理论。项目成果将有助于设计基于音频的地图显示，这将促进包括盲人或视力障碍者在内的各种地图读者更多地参与对地理空间信息的讨论和分析。作为博士论文研究改进奖，该奖项还将为有前途的学生建立强大的独立研究生涯提供支持。地理地图在空间信息交流中发挥着重要作用，科学家们已经开发出许多针对人类视觉系统的地图设计技术。然而，随着人们越来越多地认识到有必要让盲人或视力受限的人能够访问地图，以及数字数据集的规模和复杂性不断增长，科学家们开始探索将音频作为现有制图技术的替代方案。之前的研究已经确定了大脑中与空间信息处理相关的几个区域，以及与理解事件的时间序列相关的其他区域。在这个研究项目的实施过程中，博士生将使用功能磁共振成像(FMRI)来记录大脑活动，以响应通过音频顺序和同时呈现的空间信息，同时参与者对他们听到的地理空间信息做出判断。功能磁共振成像数据将量化大脑感兴趣区域活动水平的差异。这些数据将解决两个研究问题：(1)听觉地图显示的时间方面如何影响在数据中传达一般空间模式的有效性？(2)神经活动如何响应通过连续听觉显示对比呈现的地理地图与同时听觉显示？学生将分析fMRI数据以解决这些研究问题，并将提供促进地理空间信息听觉显示的公开软件。

This doctoral dissertation research project will investigate how the temporal aspect of auditory map symbology affects the perception of general information available from a geospatial map. The project will enhance general understanding of how timing in the delivery of spatial information influences a listener's ability to make sense of that information, and it will contribute to cartographic theory that is outside of its traditional visual emphasis. Project results will assist in the design of audio-based cartographic displays, which will facilitate increased participation in discussion and analysis of geospatial information by a diverse population of map readers, including those who are blind or who have limited vision. As a Doctoral Dissertation Research Improvement award, this award also will provide support to enable a promising student to establish a strong independent research career.Geographic maps serve an important role in the communication of spatial information, and scientists have developed many techniques in map design that target the human visual system. However, an increasing awareness of the need to make maps accessible to people who are blind or who have limited vision as well as the growing size and complexity of digital data sets have prompted scientists to explore audio as an alternative to established cartographic techniques. Previous research has identified several areas of the brain that are associated with the processing of spatial information and other areas that are related to understanding the temporal sequence of events. In the conduct of this research project, the doctoral student will use functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to record brain activity in response to sequential and concurrent presentation of spatial information through audio while participants make judgements about the geospatial information that they hear. The fMRI data will quantify differences in the level of activity in the brain areas of interest. These data will address two research questions: (1) How does the temporal aspect of an auditory map display influence effectiveness in communicating general spatial patterns in the data? (2) How does neural activity in response to a geographic map that is presented through a serial auditory display contrast against that of a concurrent auditory display? The student will analyze the fMRI data to address these research questions, and she will make publicly available software that facilitates auditory display of geospatial information.