To recognize and interact with objects in an object-filled environment, an accurate perceptual representation of the surfaces that define the objects is essential. The surface representation process integrates local feature information from the early cortical processes to form surfaces. Complicating the process of representing surfaces, however, is the fact that most objects overlap one another, resulting in the occluded parts of the objects' surfaces not being encoded by the early cortical processes. Thus, to accurately represent surfaces, the surface representation process uses an arsenal of perceptual rules derived from environmental constants even as it relies on the early features of the non-occluded parts. But how these perceptual rules are implemented, at which stage of the surface representation process, and how top-down attention modulates the representation of both the occluding and occluded surfaces are not well understood. In light of these, our proposal addresses three fundamental issues in representing surfaces. The issues are: A. The boundary contour and surface property information in amodal surface interpolation B. The operational constraints in surface formation during binocular viewing C. Inhibitory mechanism and plasticity in binocular surface perception These issues will be investigated using psychophysical methods on human observers with normal vision, and those with significant sensory eye dominance. Observers in the latter group tend to suppress the image viewed by the non-dominant eye when the two eyes see different images; a situation almost resembling the extreme condition afflicting strabismic amblyopia patients. In this proposal, we will test and evaluate a new perceptual learning paradigm aimed at reducing sensory eye dominance and improving perception. Therefore, the outcomes of our investigations will not only further the knowledge of perceptual and attention mechanisms in perceiving surfaces, but also has a clinical significance.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Eye Institute (NEI)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01EY015804-03
Application #
7386539
Study Section
Cognition and Perception Study Section (CP)
Program Officer
Oberdorfer, Michael
Project Start
2006-03-01
Project End
2010-02-28
Budget Start
2008-03-01
Budget End
2009-02-28
Support Year
3
Fiscal Year
2008
Total Cost
$180,909
Indirect Cost
Name
Salus University
Department
Other Basic Sciences
Type
Schools of Optometry/Ophthalmol
DUNS #
077069904
City
Elkins Park
State
PA
Country
United States
Zip Code
19027
Ooi, Teng Leng; Su, Yong R; Natale, Danielle M et al. (2013) A push-pull treatment for strengthening the 'lazy eye' in amblyopia. Curr Biol 23:R309-10
Xu, Jingping P; He, Zijiang J; Ooi, Teng Leng (2012) Further support for the importance of the suppressive signal (pull) during the push-pull perceptual training. Vision Res 61:60-9
Xu, Jingping P; He, Zijiang J; Ooi, Teng Leng (2012) Push-pull training reduces foveal sensory eye dominance within the early visual channels. Vision Res 61:48-59
Xu, Jingping P; He, Zijiang J; Ooi, Teng Leng (2012) Perceptual learning to reduce sensory eye dominance beyond the focus of top-down visual attention. Vision Res 61:39-47
Su, Yong R; He, Zijiang J; Ooi, Teng Leng (2011) Seeing grating-textured surface begins at the border. J Vis 11:14
Su, Yong R; He, Zijiang J; Ooi, Teng Leng (2011) Revealing boundary-contour based surface representation through the time course of binocular rivalry. Vision Res 51:1288-96
Xu, Jingping P; He, Zijiang J; Ooi, Teng Leng (2011) A binocular perimetry study of the causes and implications of sensory eye dominance. Vision Res 51:2386-97
Xu, Jingping P; He, Zijiang J; Ooi, Teng Leng (2010) Effectively reducing sensory eye dominance with a push-pull perceptual learning protocol. Curr Biol 20:1864-8
Su, Yong; He, Zijiang J; Ooi, Teng Leng (2010) Surface completion affected by luminance contrast polarity and common motion. J Vis 10:5.1-14
Xu, Jingping P; He, Zijiang J; Ooi, Teng Leng (2010) Surface boundary contour strengthens image dominance in binocular competition. Vision Res 50:155-70

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