Visual perception

What is visual perception?

The mammalian vertebrate visual system has a partial division of labor. In general, the parvocellular system is specialized for perception of color and fine details. The magnocellular system is specialized for perception of depth, movement, and overall patterns. One system in the cerebral cortex is responsible for shape perception. Damage to specific areas beyond the primary visual cortex can impair specific aspects of vision, such as facial recognition, color constancy, and motion perception.

What the Kennedy Center is doing:

Mechanisms of perceptual organization in human vision--National Eye Institute (1988-2005)
Randolph Blake, Ph.D., Principal Investigator

Role of visual expertise in letter perception--National Eye Institute (2001-2006)
Isabel Gauthier, Ph.D., Principal Investigator, Donald Compton, Ph.D.

Categorization and expertise in human visual cognition--National Science Foundation (2001-2004)
Isabel Gauthier, Ph.D., Principal Investigator

Attentional limits to visual perception--National Science Foundation (2001-2004)
René Marois, Ph.D., Principal Investigator

Perceptual aspects of locomotion interfaces--National Science Foundation (2001-2006)
John Rieser, Ph.D., Principal Investigator

Learn more about visual perception:

National Eye Institute
Vision Science An Internet Resource for Research in Human and Animal Vision