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

这个博士论文研究项目将探讨听觉地图符号学的时间方面如何影响从地理空间地图中获得的一般信息的感知。该项目将增进对空间信息传递的时间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以音频为基础的地图显示，这将促进不同的地图阅读者，包括盲人或视力有限的人更多地参与讨论和分析地理空间信息。作为博士论文研究改进奖，该奖项还将提供支持，使有前途的学生建立一个强大的独立研究生涯。地理地图在空间信息交流中起着重要的作用，科学家们已经开发了许多针对人类视觉系统的地图设计技术。然而，越来越多的人意识到需要为盲人或视力有限的人提供地图，以及数字数据集的规模和复杂性不断增加，促使科学家探索将音频作为现有制图技术的替代方案。先前的研究已经确定了大脑中与空间信息处理有关的几个区域，以及与理解事件的时间序列有关的其他区域。在这个研究项目中，博士生将使用功能性磁共振成像（fMRI）来记录大脑对通过音频连续和并发呈现的空间信息的反应，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相关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数据中一般空间模式传达的有效性？(2)神经活动对通过连续听觉显示呈现的地理地图的反应与同时听觉显示的反应有何不同？该学生将分析功能磁共振成像数据来解决这些研究问题，并且她将公开可用的软件，以促进听觉显示地理空间信息。

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.