Gaze and motor control – Patterns of Coordination

• Applicant: Dr. Jolande Fooken
• Subject Area: General, Cognitive and Mathematical Psychology ; Human Cognitive and Systems Neuroscience ; Cognitive, Systems and Behavioural Neurobiology
• Term: from 2020 to 2024
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 441960462

Many of the tasks we perform on a daily basis, such as reaching for and manipulating objects, rely on naturally occurring eye movements that gather relevant visual information to guide one’s actions. Past research has shown that gaze supports such tasks by fixating target objects as the hand approaches, and then shifting to the next target object at around the time the hand arrives. Whereas research to date has focused on tasks performed in isolation, real world scenarios are much more complex: we frequently engage in multi-tasking—e.g., we perform an action while monitoring a visual scene or perform two actions simultaneously—both of which require accurate visual control. Because our eyes can only be directed to a single point in space at any given time, the challenge for the visual system is to efficiently allocate gaze in a way that maintains accurate sensorimotor control of ongoing actions. The proposed research program aims to better understand how people are able to maintain successful motor performance in dynamic and complex visual environments. More specifically, the goal is to comprehend how eye and hand movements are coordinated to optimize visual and motor control in real-world actions by identifying the critical functions and limitations of gaze and its interdependence with motor control.

• DFG Programme: Research Fellowships
• International Connection: Canada
• Host: Professor Dr. Randy Flanagan