The long-term objective of this project is to develop a dynamical model of visually controlled locomotor be- havior, which can be used to simulate visual mobility problems and predict paths of locomotion in everyday environments. The research pursues two closely related problems: First, the behavioral dynamics of locomotion, or how safe paths of locomotion are generated through a complex changing environment;second, the control laws for locomotion, or how this behavior is guided by perceptual control strategies based on multisensory in- formation. In previous research, we developed a dynamical model of four elementary locomotor behaviors: (a) steering to a stationary goal, (b) avoiding a stationary obstacle, (c) intercepting a moving target, and (d) avoiding a moving obstacle. Using virtual reality techniques in freely-walking participants, we empirically tested each component, and then studied how the elementary behaviors are integrated in more complex situations. We found that linear combinations of the components successfully predict human paths with various pairs of goals and obstacles, such as a moving target with a stationary obstacle, and even with pairs of participants in a pursuit/evasion task;however, attentional factors appear to play a role with multiple obstacles. In a second set of studies, we tested the contributions of optic flow, egocentric direction, and gaze/head/body alignment to online steering control and visual-locomotor adaptation.
The specific aims of the proposed research are to pursue locomotor interactions between pedestrians, map out multisensory contributions to perceptual control strategies, and apply the model to simulate visual im- pairments and mobility problems. We will manipulate visual information during walking using virtual envi- ronments presented in a head-mounted display, podokinetic information by locomotor adaptation, vestibular information by galvanic stimulation, and neck proprioception by muscle vibration. Four studies are proposed: (1) Pedestrian interactions will investigate locomotor interactions between pedestrians, including a pair of par- ticipants, a participant interacting with a simulated virtual agent, a participant interacting with a crowd of vir- tual agents, and naturalistic studies of pedestrian traffic flow. (2) Multisensory control strategies will test the contributions of visual, podokinetic, vestibular, and proprioceptive information to steering control. (3) Com- plex behaviors will extend the model to incorporate attentional factors, speed control, and address the question of """"""""online"""""""" control or advance path planning. (4) Modeling peripheral field loss will empirically test and seek to model the effects of tunnel vision and homonymous hemianopsia on mobility. 14

Public Health Relevance

The results will contribute to basic knowledge about the visual control of locomotion and apply it to clinical understanding of visual mobility problems in disease and aging. A working model of locomotor behavior would allow us to predict individual paths of locomotion or pedestrian traffic in everyday situations, simulate specific visual impairments and mobility problems, inform architectural planning to facilitate mobility, and evaluate potential remediations. 14

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Eye Institute (NEI)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01EY010923-26
Application #
8204642
Study Section
Cognition and Perception Study Section (CP)
Program Officer
Wiggs, Cheri
Project Start
1985-06-01
Project End
2013-11-30
Budget Start
2011-12-01
Budget End
2012-11-30
Support Year
26
Fiscal Year
2012
Total Cost
$462,374
Indirect Cost
$165,642
Name
Brown University
Department
Miscellaneous
Type
Schools of Arts and Sciences
DUNS #
001785542
City
Providence
State
RI
Country
United States
Zip Code
02912
Warren, William H (2018) Collective Motion in Human Crowds. Curr Dir Psychol Sci 27:232-240
Zhao, Huaiyong; Warren, William H (2017) Intercepting a moving target: On-line or model-based control? J Vis 17:12
Zhao, Huaiyong; Warren, William H (2015) On-line and model-based approaches to the visual control of action. Vision Res 110:190-202
Rhea, Christopher K; Kiefer, Adam W; Haran, F J et al. (2014) A new measure of the CoP trajectory in postural sway: dynamics of heading change. Med Eng Phys 36:1473-9
Rhea, Christopher K; Kiefer, Adam W; D'Andrea, Susan E et al. (2014) Entrainment to a real time fractal visual stimulus modulates fractal gait dynamics. Hum Mov Sci 36:20-34
Rio, Kevin W; Rhea, Christopher K; Warren, William H (2014) Follow the leader: visual control of speed in pedestrian following. J Vis 14:
Cinelli, Michael; Warren, William H (2012) Do walkers follow their heads? Investigating the role of head rotation in locomotor control. Exp Brain Res 219:175-90
Warren, William H (2012) Does this computational theory solve the right problem? Marr, Gibson, and the goal of vision. Perception 41:1053-60
Siegle, Joshua H; Warren, William H (2010) Distal attribution and distance perception in sensory substitution. Perception 39:208-23
Gerin-Lajoie, Martin; Ciombor, Deborah McK; Warren, William H et al. (2010) Using ambulatory virtual environments for the assessment of functional gait impairment: a proof-of-concept study. Gait Posture 31:533-6

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