Multisensory processing for perception and action

我们能用我们的双手来改善我们的视力吗？“看”这个词通常指的是视觉，但最好的理解是，看是一种动手的、多感官的活动。即使触摸没有提供任何信息(例如，当你将手放在正在阅读的文本旁边时)，仔细检查的行为通常涉及将手放在仔细检查的对象上或靠近检查对象。我的研究计划的目标是(1)系统地揭示我们如何使用双手影响视力的细节，以及(2)描述运动系统在支持这一行为方面所起的作用。通过了解手可以增强视力的方式，这项研究有可能揭示神经系统如何协调和整合运动、触摸和视觉信息。在实用性方面，我认为这项研究将对物理和职业治疗师有用，他们教会脑部损伤或疾病的人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.