Even though we experience a rich and detailed visual world, we actually perceive and remember only a small subset of the available information. What limits the bandwidth of visual cognition? To answer this question, I work at multiple levels of analysis and explore this topic from a cognitive neuroscience, psychological, and theoretical perspective.
How does neural organization relate to behavioral performance?
How does the functional organization of the visual system, specifically higher-level visual cortex relate to behavior?
Recently, I found that the functional organization of higher-level visual cortex imposes powerful constraints on the capacity of visual working memory, perception, and awareness.
Perceptual processing of object categories is linked to a widespread
representational structure across high-level visual cortex.
Cohen et al., (under review).
Limits on perceptual encoding can be predicted from known receptive field properties of human visual cortex. Cohen et al., J Exp Psychol: Hum Percept Perf (2016)
Visual awareness is limited by the representational architecture of the visual system. Cohen et al., J Cog Neuro (2015)
Processing multiple visual items is limited by overlap in neural channels. Cohen et al., Proc Natl Acad Sci USA (2014).
How does this neural organization arise during development?
Currently, I am using fMRI and hierarchical convolutional neural networks (HCNNs) to understand how the organization of the visual system develops over time. I am primarily focusing on the interplay between the size and selectivity of category selective regions (e.g., FFA) and distributed activation patterns across the visual hierarchy. Interestingly, I have found that even though a region like FFA is smaller in children (ages 5-7) than adults, the patterns of activity in children's FFAs are highly correlated with adults.
Common representational structures across the visual hierarchy in children and adults. Cohen et al. VSS (2016)
The emergence of face-selective units in a model that has never seen a face. Yamins, Cohen et al. VSS (2015)
Currently, I am using fMRI and hierarchical convolutional neural networks (HCNNs) to understand how the organization of the visual system develops over time. I am primarily focusing on the interplay between the size and selectivity of category selective regions (e.g., FFA) and distributed activation patterns across the visual hierarchy. Interestingly, I have found that even though a region like FFA is smaller in children (ages 5-7) than adults, the patterns of activity in children's FFAs are highly correlated with adults.
Common representational structures across the visual hierarchy in children and adults. Cohen et al. VSS (2016)
The emergence of face-selective units in a model that has never seen a face. Yamins, Cohen et al. VSS (2015)
Characterizing the limits of visual awareness.
Why are some bits of information in the visual system consciously perceived while other bits remain unconscious? What differentiates conscious and unconscious processing? Is attention necessary or sufficient for visual awareness? How can we characterize visual awareness?
What is the bandwidth of perceptual experience? Cohen et al.
Trends Cogn Sci (2016)
The attentional requirements of consciousness. Cohen et al.,
Trends Cogn Sci (2012)
Consciousness cannot be separated from function. Cohen
and Dennett. Trends Cogn Sci (2011)
Natural-scene perception requires attention. Cohen et al.,
Psych Science (2011).
Why are some bits of information in the visual system consciously perceived while other bits remain unconscious? What differentiates conscious and unconscious processing? Is attention necessary or sufficient for visual awareness? How can we characterize visual awareness?
What is the bandwidth of perceptual experience? Cohen et al.
Trends Cogn Sci (2016)
The attentional requirements of consciousness. Cohen et al.,
Trends Cogn Sci (2012)
Consciousness cannot be separated from function. Cohen
and Dennett. Trends Cogn Sci (2011)
Natural-scene perception requires attention. Cohen et al.,
Psych Science (2011).
Comparing the limits of visual and auditory memory
How do the capacities of visual and auditory recognition memory compare to one another? What does it take to equate memory performance across the modalities? Does extensive training with music (i.e., musicians) make auditory memory as good as, or better than, visual memory?
Auditory recognition memory is inferior to visual recognition memory.
Cohen et al., Proc Natl Acad Sci USA (2009)
Auditory and visual memory in musicians and non-musicians.
Cohen et al., Psychon Bull Rev (2011)
