Multisensory interactions and the representation of the body in the brain

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The senses interact and complement each other to provide reliable sensory information about the external and internal world. The main objectives of my research program are (1) to determine how visual, auditory and vestibular information are combined to provide reliable cues to body orientation; experiments will involve novel investigations into the contributions of extremely peripheral vision on orientation and self-motion perception while sitting and standing; (2) to determine the coding and flexibility of body representation and its effects on sensory processing; experiments will involve psychophysical measures of perceived body size and the location of touch and how these perceptions can be altered by experience; and (3) to determine the contribution of sensory input to the sense of body ownership; we have developed the first quantitative estimate of the perception of body ownership; experiments will include disrupting the grounding influence of the vestibular system and creating artificial links between visual and tactile cues to enhance the projection of the self into video images. The common element to these three themes is to quantify the emerging central role of the body in many aspects of perception.******To whom the research is important: Scientifically, understanding how body representation contributes to our sense of orientation, the perceived location of stimuli, and our perception of our selves, will alter our understanding of how sensory processing gives rise to perception. Practical applications include incorporating multisensory feedback into human factors design to provide better orientation cues, especially in the presence of degraded sensory input such as in space, or underwater. Understanding how the perception of self can be manipulated can be used for improved virtual reality experience in real gaming.******Anticipated outcomes: We expect to show that the far periphery of the visual field is important in our perception of orientation and self-motion; that body perception is plastic and that changes affect tactile processing of intensity and location; and that the vestibular system plays an important role in grounding the self that can be measured and that is subject to disruption. ******Benefits to the research field and Canada: These studies will transform basic perceptual research by quantifying the unexpected role of the body in multiple aspects of perception. They will inform applications that may help people maintain orientation in unusual environments. The exceptional training opportunities offered by my lab and associated training grants will help create the Canadian scientists of tomorrow. ********