College of Science Cognitive Science Research
Talk
Probing Principles of Brain Functioning with a
Perspective of Dynamic
Vision
Dr. Hulusi
Kafaligonul
Associate Professor, Bilkent University, (Ankara,
Turkey)
National Magnetic Resonance Research
Center
Abstract:
The daily life experiences typically involve dynamic
and changing stimuli (e.g., moving objects) which require adaptive
behavior, thereby making sensory and perceptual dynamics crucial for
interacting with the external environment. In particular, vision is a
highly dynamic process, and there is an established knowledge on the
dynamic aspect of visual perception. Using conceptual and experimental
frameworks established by previous vision studies, we aim to understand
perceptual and cognitive dynamics and reveal the basic principles of
functioning brain. In this seminar talk, I will present two lines of
research from our research group to exemplify this approach. The first
study will be on crossmodal interactions and multisensory integration. We
have identified key processing stages of multisensory processing in
cortex via audiovisual motion paradigms combined with EEG. Our findings
further suggested that the final multisensory percept may be the outcome
of dynamic interplay between different cortical regions. The second line
of research is based on our progress in understanding age-related changes
in perception and cognition. There is a growing realization that previous
research on dynamic vision provides a conceptual framework to investigate
age-related changes at different levels of sensory/perceptual processing.
Using zebrafish aging model, we found that aging can have distinct
influences on different stages of motion processing and the activated
motion system. As opposed to evidence suggesting a common factor
underlying cognitive changes in healthy aging, our findings further
pointed out the diverse nature of age-related alterations in sensory and
perceptual processing. In the end, I will briefly present our current and
future research programs.
Intended Audience:
All are welcome.