Perception, Action and Decision Making

Research in the Perception, Action and Decision Making (PAD) Group is focused on the study of sensation, perception, cognition and motor behaviour using psychophysical and neuroscientific methods including magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS). The department hosts a range of state-of-the-art research facilities including an on-site, research-dedicated 3T Siemens Trio MRI scanner, MRI compatible tDCS; MRI-compatible tactile stimulators; several eye trackers (incl. MRI-compatible); TMS & Neuronavigation; EEG Biosemi Active Two System; EMG, GSR, and EKG (AD Instruments).

Principal investigators in the PAD Group are currently funded by ESRC, BBSRC, EPSRC, ESRC, Wellcome Trust, Royal Society, European Union FP7, Leverhulme Trust, and a range of third stream sources (see “recent awards” on home page).

Our specific areas of interest and expertise are outlined below:

Dr Szonya Durant:  Perceptual space and time, neuronal population coding of image features, sensory adaptation, combination of sensory attributes. Using psychophysics, fMRI and computational modelling. Find out more

Dr. Elisa Ferre: My research is focussed on multisensory interactions between vestibular inputs from the ear’s balance organs and other sensory inputs (somatosensory, visual, and proprioceptive).  I am also interested in the role of these vestibular-multisensory interactions in bodily perception and awareness (self-motion, embodiment, ownership, and perspective taking).  Methods: artificial vestibular stimulations, psychophysics, EEG. Find out more

Dr Scott Glover: The functional and neurological underpinnings of reaching and grasping movements, motor imagery, and joint action. Elucidating the neural correlates of action planning and control. Determining the effects of cognitive variables on the accuracy of the timing of motor imagery. Contrasting motor behaviour during cooperative vs. competitive actions. Find out more

Dr Stephen Hammett: Perceived speed in human vision; Motion Sharpening and Motion Blurs; Automation of cervical cytology; Cricket. Find out more

Dr Jonas Larsson: Computational neuroimaging of human visual perception. Mapping and characterisation of human visual cortex, with specific emphasis on elucidating the mechanisms underlying spatiotemporal modulations of neuronal activity, such as adaptation and surround suppression, and how these influence representations of  shape information in cortical neuronal networks. Find out more

Dr Angelika Lingnau: I am interested in the way actions that we plan, imagine, observe, or perform are represented in the brain, and to which degree these representations are required to be able to understand other people's actions. To this aim, I am using a variety of methods, in particular multivariate pattern (MVP) analysis of fMRI and MEG data, TMS, and eye tracking. Find out more

Prof Narender Ramnani: Research is focussed on understanding the mechanisms in the human brain that underlie human cognition, particularly in relation to decision-making, learning and the cognitive control of action. Most current projects focus on cortico-cerebellar information processing. Find out more

Professor Andy Smith: Use of fMRI techniques to elucidate visual processes in the human brain. Psychophysical studies of the early stages visual processing, particularly the detection of image motion. Find out more

Dr. Petra Vetter: Visual perception and the underlying neural mechanisms in humans. In particular, how early vision is influenced by audition, emotion and cognition. Function of early visual cortex in the sighted and the blind. Gender differences in visual perception. Implications of top-down influences to vision for philosophy of mind. Methods: fMRI (including retinotopic mapping and brain decoding), TMS, psychophysics, eye tracking. Find out more

Professor Robin Walker: My research interests focus on furthering our understanding of how the brain controls where we look (Eye movements, or Oculomotor control).  I use eye trackers in simple behavioural studies and also functional brain imaging (fMRI) to investigate the underlying brain regions involved in this decision process. I am also interested in macular degeneration specifically the eccentric viewing technique and reading performance.  I have developed an iPad app (MD_evReader) that is designed to help people with macular degeneration read more easily.  Find out more 

Professor John Wann: The Action Research Lab has a particular interest in human behaviour and performance centred around perception and action.  Research interests include: the neural aspects of perception for action using fMRI; the temporal and spatial aspects of planning and controlling goal-directed actions; the visual processing skills of adults and children in the context of road crossing; and why some children fail to develop the close linkage of perception to action that most of us rely upon. Find out more

Professor Johannes Zanker: Visual information processing in humans, in particular motion perception, and possible applications in artificial systems. Find out more