Sensory and perceptual contributions to preparation and execution of goal-directed action

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The long-term and broad goal of my research program is to better understand the mechanisms underlying sensory and perceptual contributions to the preparation and execution of goal-directed movements. Over the past several years, one research theme has been directed toward issues pertaining to the contributions of vision to conscious perception and control of visually-guided movement. Our visual system serves a dual purpose. First, it allows us to consciously perceive our surroundings (e.g., recognize our cup of coffee). Second, it can guide our interaction with our environment (e.g., reach for our cup of coffee). The short-term goals of this research theme on vision over the next 5 years are to examine the properties of visual-motor processing in the absence of conscious awareness. We will investigate the extent to which unconscious processes can influence motor preparation and real-time control of visually-guided movements. A second research theme on vision has been directed toward issues pertaining to the interactions between visual input and information from the vestibular system (a system that provides us with balance and navigation signals) during goal-directed movements. The short-term goals of this research theme over the next grant period are to study how visual input is combined with navigational signals from our vestibular system to guide locomotion and reaching movements. We will investigate how the weighting between visual and vestibular signals change as a function of the reliability and accuracy of these signals during the preparation and execution of purposeful movements.