Dr. Scott N.J. Watamaniuk:
Tel: (937) 775-3563
Office: 313E Fawcett Hall
E-Mail: scott.watamaniuk@wright.edu
Dr. scott N.J. watamaniuk
Bio
Dr. Watamaniuk received his B.Sc. (Psychology) from the University of Alberta, and his Ph.D. (Psychology, Perception) from Northwestern University in 1990 under the direction of Dr. Robert Sekuler, an expert in the field of vision, motion perception, and aging. From 1989 to 1995, Dr. Watamaniuk was a Research Fellow and Research Associate at The Smith-Kettlewell Eye Research Institute in San Francisco, CA, and has been at Wright State University since the fall of 1995.
Research Interests
In broad terms, Dr. Watamaniuk studies the capacities of the human visual system to process motion information. Experiments measuring the precision with which humans make judgements about visual motion can reveal the limitations of motion processing. These data can then be used to determined the functional structure of the brain mechanisms involved in the processing of motion information. Moreover, applications that utilize dynamic displays must take into account human motion processing capabilities to fully capitalize on the visual systems strengths and avoid falling prey to its weaknesses. Currently Dr. Watamaniuk investigates how motion is used to segregate the visual environment, how intermittent interruption of a motion signal by occluders influences processing, and the mechanisms involved in the processing of motion in depth. This psychophysical research is conducted using precision controlled, computer-generated, random-dot displays. In addition, Dr. Watamaniuk investigates how human smooth pursuit eye movements respond to complex motion stimuli. Using a high-resolution eye tracker, observers’ eye movements are measured precisely to determine the dynamics of the smooth pursuit eye movement system. These data can be used to determine the underlying computations and processing of the visual motion stimulus that generate the signal to guide human smooth pursuit eye movements. A new area of research has Dr. Watamaniuk studying the contribution of attention for and during smooth pursuit eye movements.
