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I study human perception and cognition, particularly relating to perception and
representation of space and perception in nonvisual modalities.

These are some of the topics I have been studying:

•  Representing space through locomotion and touch
•  Identifying objects by touch
•  Spatial updating in the absence of vision (path integration)
•  Spatial representations acquired through language
•  Reference frames used to define spatial locations
•  Haptic texture perception
•  Spatially designated action:  reaching, walking, pinching, grasping
•  Inter-sensory integration

Research approach:

•  Varying methodologies and populations – Subjects in my experiments often move
in physical or virtual spaces.  They reach for and touch real objects or virtual objects
that are defined by forces.  My experiments may use psychophysics, cognitive paradigms,
observation, or neuro-imaging.  Some of my research involves blind subjects or those
impaired by stroke. 
•  An eye for application – My research is related to applied problems, including navigation
aids for the blind, sensory-guided robots, tele-manipulation and stroke rehabilitation.
•  Collaboration – I believe that cognitive science is best done collaboratively, and I have
been fortunate to have extended collaborations with several researchers.

Ongoing collaborations:

•  Susan Lederman (Queen's University) – haptic perception of objects, surfaces,
and space.
•  Jack Loomis (UC Santa Barbara) – navigation aids for the visually impaired;
spatial cognition across multiple modalities.  Reg Golledge has also been involved
in much of this work.
•  Marc Ernst (Max Planck Institute, Tübingen) – haptic perception and
inter-sensory integration.
•  Ralph Hollis (Carnegie Mellon) – perception and manipulation in a virtual haptic
environment, using a magnetic-levitation device.
•  Yoky Matsuoka (Carnegie Mellon) – using distorted feedback and haptic virtual
reality to overcome learned nonuse in stroke patients.
•  Mark May (Universität der Bundeswehr Hamburg) – path integration.
•  George Stetten (Carnegie Mellon) – sensory guided manipulation within
multiple reference frames, using the "sonic flashlight".

Recent or Current Student and Post-Doc Collaborators:

Marios Avraamides, Bambi Brewer, Wilson Chang, Matt Fagan, Yvonne Lippa,
Anne Murray, Bert Unger, Jim Marston, Sharlene Newman, Kim Purdy, Damion Shelton,
Bing Wu

Picture Gallery

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