The range of image variation that occurs under natural viewing conditions is very large. To cope with this variability, the visual system has evolved a set of regulatory mechanisms that optimize sensitivity for prevailing viewing conditions. This regulation process relies on a set of very elementary neural mechanisms that are arranged in a similar fashion at multiple levels of processing. Disruptions of these elementary mechanisms may occur in brain disorders, such as epilepsy and autism. Studies of sensitivity regulation may provide useful biomarkers for these disorders and failures of these regulatory processes may contribute to symptomatology.
Current projects:
- Visual sensitivity regulation in epilepsy
- Visual sensitivity regulation in Austism Spectrum Disorders