The world around us contains a massive amount of visual information. Despite this fact, our visual system has a limited capacity, and can only process a fraction of this information at a time. How then are we able to successfully locate, identify, and interact with objects? Although real-world environments are highly complex, the layout of these environments is rarely random. Instead, real-world environments contain a variety of predictable regularities that enable more efficient processing of information. Broadly speaking, I am interested in how our visual system leverages these regularities to facilitate the visual processing of objects. To address this question, my research examines the visual processing of objects at a number of stages, including our visual perception, attention, and memory.
Spatial and temporal regularities
To select objects for further processing, we must first locate those objects in time and space. Whether catching a ball or navigating a crowded street, we must select individual objects and track their positions as they change over time. My research examines how these spatial and temporal regularities influence our visual attention. My research suggests that the rate of attentional selection is set independently at different locations in the visual field. I am also currently investigating whether words, numbers, and other symbols can produce spatial shifts of attention.
Statistical regularities
Objects not only occupy specific locations in time and space, but also co-occur with each other in predictable ways. For example, tables and chairs not only tend to be located in the same scenes, but also co-occur in specific spatial configurations. My research examines how these statistical regularities influence our visual attention. My research suggests that statistically learned associations among objects can bias the allocation of attention. I am also currently investigating whether statistical learning can influence the selection of goals and strategies in visual search.
Semantic and functional regularities
In addition to statistical regularities, objects often share meaningful relationships with each other. For example, objects such as a pitcher and glass not only share a semantic relationship, but can also be oriented to enable specific functional interactions, such as pouring. My research examines how these semantic and functional properties of objects influence our visual attention and memory. My research suggests that semantic and functional relationships among objects can produce additive benefits for visual attention and memory. I am also currently investigating whether semantic relationships can influence the learning of reward and threat associations.
Cognitive and physical regularities
Interacting with objects not only involves perceiving environmental regularities, but also identifying our own cognitive and physical abilities. To reach for an object such as a hammer, we must not only perceive its location and orientation, but also identify the best way to grasp it. My research examines how these cognitive and physical regularities influence our visual perception, attention, and memory. My research suggests that interacting with individual objects can briefly distort our perceptual judgments of distance. I am also currently investigating whether the avoidance of cognitive and physical effort can influence the allocation of attention.
