Multisensory processing for perception and action

我们可以用双手来改善我们的视力吗？“看”这个词通常指的是视觉，但看最好被认为是一个动手的，多感官的事件。即使触摸没有提供信息（例如，当你把手放在你正在阅读的文本旁边时），仔细检查的行为通常也会涉及把手放在仔细检查的对象上或附近。我的研究计划的目标是（1）系统地揭示我们如何使用我们的手来影响视觉的细节，（2）描述运动系统在支持这种行为中所起的作用。通过了解手可以增强视觉的方式，这项研究有可能揭示神经系统如何协调和整合运动，触觉和视觉信息。在实践方面，我认为这项研究将有助于物理和职业治疗师，他们教脑损伤或疾病患者使用新的策略来利用他们剩余的视觉和运动能力。

Can we use our hands to improve our vision? The term "looking" typically refers to vision, but looking is best thought of as a hands-on, multi-sensory event. Even when touch is uninformative (for example when you place your hand next to the text you are reading), the act of scrutiny often involves placing the hands on or near the object of scrutiny. The goal of my research program is (1) to systematically uncover the details of how we use our hands to influence vision, and (2) to describe the role that the motor system plays in supporting this behaviour. By learning about the ways in which the hands can augment vision, this research has the potential to reveal how movement, touch and visual information are coordinated and integrated by the nervous system. In matters of practicality, I think this research will useful to the physical and occupational therapists who teach people with brain injuries or disease to use new strategies to take advantage of their remaining visual and motor capabilities.