|
|
Project
MEMORY is an innovative and ambitious project of measurement and modelling of the dynamics
of multidimensional perception of space and time with a
cross-disciplinary line of attack that combines direct psychophysical and
electrophysiological measurements with real-world modelling and novel
wireless communication and sensing technologies. When we view the world
around us, we observe a stable image, despite frequent rapid body and eye
movements. How the brain accomplishes this interpretation remains only partially
understood, although it is known to involve short-lived perceptual
distortions of space and time. The aim of MEMORY is to explore this complex
mechanism and to reproduce it on a distributed computer system. The
project builds on recent psychophysical and neurophysiological findings
showing that as humans and animals move their eyes, their visual systems are
subject to strong and robust (albeit transient) distortions of perceived
space and time. It has been suggested, with strong supporting evidence, that
these distortions may be relativistic-like consequences of the rapid
remapping of neurones, necessary to compensate for the changes in retinal
position produced by the eye movement. We plan to investigate and measure
these phenomena with a multidisciplinary approach that combines the
techniques of human psychophysics, functional magnetic imaging, animal
neurophysiology and modelling within a Networked Control System (NCS). The cross-disciplinary line of attack aims
at developing a holistic, multimodal and multidimensional model that will
enable us to reproduce the relativistic-like effect in NCS and to understand
the mechanisms of visual stability. The final goal is the definition of an
integrated environment that combines perceptual with virtual cyberworld
information, obtained from NCS. The most tangible project
objectives are: i)
Advanced measurements of the dynamics of perception, particularly
at the time of rapid eye-movements, which will lead to a refinement of current theory, and
explain the illusory but robust psychophysical effects that accompany eye
movements: a compression of spatial relationships and apparent time (possibly
reflecting a dilation of the internal clock). ii)
Application of special relativity
theory for novel modelling of compression of space and time, and studies of
how the brain/control-system could implement such dynamic activity. iii)
A Networked Control
Systems model of the perceptual phenomena, particularly visual stability. iv)
A fully
integrated perceptual world and virtual cyberworld model, where the
physical measurements can be integrated by virtual cyberworld measurements. The MEMORY approach
will develop a common framework of measurement techniques for the
neurosciences, pervasive computing, communications and robotics. It will also
be appropriate for advancing the measurement of other multidimensional
phenomena mediated by human interpretation and perception. |
|