Neural decision-making in motion

Objective

Our objectives are:
(1) to understand the neural mechanisms underlying fast target selection and sensory-guided decisions in humans in motion and
(2) to transfer this knowledge into an artificial cognitive system for robotic navigation.

We here foster a combined experimental and modelling approach that aims to reveal the mechanisms of visual cognition as they interact with processes of neural decision-making and attention selection. A critical new departure will be to evaluate and model performance for a moving observer. The project aims to integrate cognitive processes, such as decision-making, the relation between decision-making and learning, attention selection based on such decisions, and the coordination of sensory processes with selection processes in the moving participant.

We will approach this question at five levels:

1) We will study fast decisions, motion-based attention selection and scene interpretation in humans at the behavioural level as well as at the level of the underlying brain activity using neuro-imaging methods.
2) We will focus on sensory and cognitive processes in animal models to investigate their role in fast neural processing in motion perception.
3) We will develop neural network models that are constructed on the basis of the information obtained in the animal models and simulate them in order to demonstrate the key behavioural patterns.
4) Deficits arising from brain damage will be explored in patients. We intend to determine the contribution of cortical areas as they contribute to whole-system behaviour in the estimation of self-motion and navigation. We apply these results to optimise behavioural monitoring with algorithms for extracting eye/head movements in the moving observer.
5) The resulting models will endow artificial cognitive systems with the ability to interpret and act on data arising from real-world events.

All five approaches will be integrated to form a new theory on decision-making in motion.

Programme(s)

• FP6-IST - Information Society Technologies: thematic priority under the specific programme "Integrating and strengthening the European research area" (2002-2006).

Topic(s)

• IST-2004-2.4.8 - Cognitive Systems

Funding Scheme

STREP - Specific Targeted Research Project

Coordinator

UNIVERSITAET REGENSBURG

Address

Universitaetsstrasse 31
93053 Regensburg
Germany

Participants (9)

CAMBRIDGE RESEARCH SYSTEMS LIMITED

United Kingdom

Address

80 Riverside Estate, Sir Thomas Longley Road
ME2 4BH Rochester, Kent

CENTRE NATIONAL DE LA RECHERCHE SCIENTIFIQUE

France

Address

3, Rue Michel-ange
75794 Paris Cedex 16

FUNDACIO BARCELONA MEDIA UNIVERSITAT POMPEU FABRA

Spain

Address

Plaza De La Merce 10-12
08002 Barcelona

KAROLINSKA INSTITUTET

Sweden

Address

Nobels Vaeg 5
171 77 Solna Stockholm

KONINKLIJKE NEDERLANDSE AKADEMIE VAN WETENSCHAPPEN

Netherlands

Address

Kloveniersburgwal 29
1011 JV Amsterdam

SCUOLA SUPERIORE DI STUDI UNIVERSITARI E DI PERFEZIONAMENTO SANT'ANNA

Italy

Address

Piazza Martiri Della Liberta, 33
56127 Pisa

SPIKENET TECHNOLOGY SARL

France

Address

Prologue 1 La Pyreneenne
31672 Labege

THE UNIVERSITY OF BIRMINGHAM

United Kingdom

Address

Edgbaston
B15 2TT Birmingham

UNIVERSITAET ULM

Germany

Address

Albert-einstein-allee 5
89081 Ulm