Visual processing of 3D motion

Motion is a constant feature in our lives, whether it is our own self motion that we perceive as we walk around or that of other objects moving through our field of vision. We know a great deal about how the human brain processes motion in two dimensions, but very little about motion in the third dimension of depth.

This project is particularly focused on the perception of objects moving in three dimensions towards the observer. Objects directly approaching an observer deliver a rapid expansion on the retina; this source of 3D information is called looming. Looming objects have been reported to be able to capture attention and cause responses indicative of fear in a range of animals including humans. In primates, neurons exist in specialised motion areas of the brain that are thought to be specifically sensitive to looming.

However, we can also use depth information provided by binocular vision to perceive motion in depth, a cue called changing binocular disparity. Although there has been much interest in each of these two cues, both in terms of understanding basic brain computations, and their neural underpinnings, very little work has sought to understand how the two cues combine and whether separate or joint processing networks underlie their perception. This project will explore human brain sensitivity to the two cues, using behavioural, modelling, and brain imaging techniques. The project will allow us to better understand how we perceive motion in three dimensions and the mechanisms that allow us to process motion in depth as we go about our lives.