How eye position and movement change how we see motion and depth
Influences of viewing geometry on neural computations of motion and depth
This project looks at how eye movements and the angle you view things from change what people see, including older adults and people with brain or vision changes.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Rochester NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Rochester, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11291841 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
The team developed a model predicting how viewing geometry (how the eye moves and turns) should change perceptions of object motion and depth. They will have people look at controlled moving images while tracking eye movements and compare what people report to the model's predictions. Early results already show predictable perception biases that depend on viewing geometry even when the image on the eye is the same. The work will help reveal how the brain combines eye movement signals and visual input to build a stable sense of the world.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal participants are adults who can follow moving visual targets and sit for eye-tracking sessions, often including healthy volunteers and older adults.
Not a fit: People with severe visual loss, inability to fixate or follow targets, or advanced cognitive impairment may not be eligible or likely to benefit directly.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could improve understanding of why people with aging or brain conditions misperceive motion and could eventually inform better diagnostics or therapies for vision and navigation problems.
How similar studies have performed: Previous eye‑tracking and psychophysics work has shown perception biases, but applying a viewing-geometry framework to link those biases to neural computations is a newer and less-tested approach.
Where this research is happening
Rochester, United States
- University of Rochester — Rochester, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Deangelis, Gregory C — University of Rochester
- Study coordinator: Deangelis, Gregory C
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.