It is sometimes said that the
biological purpose of the brain is to
generate behaviour. On the other hand, about half of the cerebral
cortex is devoted to vision-related functions. It follows that the
neural mechanisms that transform vision into commands for behaviour are
central to brain function. The corollary of this is that
visual-motor functions are central to most daily activities, and are frequently compromised by neurological disorders and injuries. We are particularly
interested in the spatial aspects of these processes: how
the brain represents and updates objects in short-term spatial memory and then transforms this information into plans for action in three-dimensional
space. To study this, we employ modeling, psychophysics, neurophysiology, fMRI, TMS, MEG and experiments with patients. For more information on the philosophy behind our research and training, see this interview