Focus on fixations. Neuroimaging of human visual perception

PhD ceremony: Mr. J.B.C. Marsman, 16.15 uur, Academiegebouw, Broerstraat 5, Groningen

Title: Focus on fixations. Neuroimaging of human visual perception

Promotor(s): prof. J.M.M. Hooymans

Faculty: Medical Sciences

During an MRI scan people are requested to focus their view because eye movement produces noise. This practice may come to an end as the result of a novel technique to analyse brain activity during eye movement. This thesis contributes to answering the question how visual information is processed in the brain in relation to eye movement by: 1) showing that both brain responses and stimulus features can be used to predict were people direct their gaze; 2) providing a novel analysis method which allows incorporating natural viewing behaviour in functional MRI research; 3) implementing an original approach for measuring priority; 4) revealing the organisation of visual cortex fpr processing of perceived colour, priority, and the information gathered during distinct types of viewing behaviour. In conclusion, the use of natural viewing behaviour in functional MRI creates new pathways for studying human brain function.