We are a lab at the University of Sussex researching visual perception, and particularly colour perception. In colour vision we study the underlying cortical neural mechanisms, the impacts on perception of variants of the medium and long-wavelength sensitive cones, including the minority phenotypes of anomalous trichromacy and tetrachromacy, and the impact of short term and long term exposure to perceptual environments on colour perception. Currently, we are conducting an ERC-funded project COLOURCODE on subjective colour experience and the cortical neural mechanisms of colour perception, and collaborating with Anna Franklin on her ERC-funded project COLOURMIND, to understand how colour perception becomes tuned to natural scene statistics.

 

We apply our knowledge of the visual system to create efficient new tests of visual function for patients with eye disease, using next-generation virtual reality hardware. In collaboration with Ruth Hogg at the Centre for Experimental Medicine, Belfast, we are developing an algorith for visual perimetry for patients with glaucoma, and ecologically valid tests of visual abilities for patients with low vision. We have also co-created created ColourSpot, an iPad app to diagnose colour vision deficiency in young children. We are working to make the app available for use as a screening tool in early years education. 

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We use individual differences as a method to explore the connection between different visual traits: correlated differences may imply shared neural resources. In collaboration with John Mollon at the University of Cambridge, we study the genetic determinants of individual differences in basic and more complex visual traits, including stereopsis, motion, contrast sensitivity, colour vision and face perception.

 

Sussex vision lab uses a combination of psychophysical, brain imaging, modelling and genetic methods to explore the structure, function and biological basis of the human visual system. The lab is currently home to 2 postdoctoral research associates, 5 postgraduate research students and 2 undergraduate project students.