Optological Laboratory
Research Leader
National & International Collaborators
- Professor RHS Carpenter - The Physiological Laboratory, University of Cambridge, UK
- Dr Jason Forte - Psychological Sciences, The University of Melbourne
- Dr Ruth Hogg - Centre for Vision & Vascular Science, Institute of Clinical Sciences, Royal Victoria Hospital, Belfast
- Dr Chris A Johnson - Department of Ophthalmology, University of Iowa, USA
Laboratory Information
The Optological Laboratory non-invasively investigates how the human eye and brain function, both in normal observers and those with eye disease. Although our understanding of neuroscience has been greatly enhanced through electrophysiological recordings from individual neurons and through computer imaging of gross neural activity across the brain, such information only tells us part of how the brain and eye work. Ultimately we also need to understand how the eye and brain behave in response to various forms of information, and to ascertain what functional limits exist in processing such information. Only by combining results from a range of different studies – including electrophysiological, imaging and behavioural studies – can a more complete understanding of neuroscience be achieved.
Our laboratory uses a range of techniques to determine how the eye and brain behave, many of which can be classed under the general heading of psychophysical methods. Sometimes our investigations involve visual targets used in clinical tests of vision, allowing us to better understand how such tests work and allowing more effective clinical tests to be developed. Other investigations use customised visual stimuli and special experimental protocols to examine how the eye transmits information to the brain, and also how the brain processes this information in order to make decisions. The laboratory is well equipped to undertake a wide range of behavioural experiments and so can address a broad range of behavioural questions, both in the clinical and basic sciences.
Funding
- ARC Future Fellowship
Anderson AJ (2012-2016). Understanding progressive vision loss in the eye disease glaucoma.
$714,528 - ARC Project Grant DP120100651
Anderson AJ, Carpenter RHS, Brotchie P (2012-2014). Getting back on track after the unexpected happens: decision making in predictable and unpredictable environments.
$240,000
Recent Clinical Publications
- Anderson AJ, Shuey NH, Wall M (2009). Rapid confrontation screening for peripheral visual field defects and extinction. Clinical and Experimental Optometry 92: 45-48.
Recent Investigations of Ocular Disease
- Anderson AJ, Johnson CA, Werner JS (2011). Measuring visual function in age-related macular degeneration with frequency-doubling (Matrix) perimetry. Optometry & Vision Science 88: 806-815.
- Hackett DA, Anderson AJ (2011). Determining mechanisms of visual loss in glaucoma using Rarebit perimetry. Optometry & Vision Science 88: 48-55.
- Dimitrov PN, Guymer RH, Zele AJ, Anderson AJ, Vingrys AJ (2008). Measuring rod and cone dynamics in age-related macular degeneration. Investigative Ophthalmology and Visual Science 49: 55-65.
Recent Investigations of the Normal Visual System
- Anderson AJ, Wassnig SE (2012). The role of local separation in spatial frequency discrimination. Vision Research 53: 15-20.
- Hogg RE, Anderson AJ (2009). Appearance of the frequency-doubling stimulus at threshold. Investigative Ophthalmology and Visual Science 50: 1477-1482.
- Anderson AJ, McKendrick AM (2007). Quantifying adaptation and fatigue effects in frequency doubling perimetry. Investigative Ophthalmology and Visual Science 48: 943-948.
Recent Investigations of Decision-Making Processes in the Brain
- Anderson AJ, Carpenter RH (2010). Saccadic latency in deterministic environments: getting back on track after the unexpected happens. Journal of Vision 10: 12.
- Carpenter RH, Reddi BA, Anderson AJ (2009). A simple two stage model predicts response time distributions. Journal of Physiology 15: 4051-4062.
- Anderson AJ, Yadav H, Carpenter RHS (2008). Directional prediction by the saccadic system. Current Biology 18: 614-618.
Contact Details
Dr Andrew J Anderson (aaj@ unimelb.edu.au). Ph: +61 3 9349 7403