Biography

My research interests are centred on the integration of vestibular cues for self-motion with other sensory modalities. I have a particular interest in investigating what happens when the normal integration of vestibular-multisensory cues breaks down, for example when experiencing a sensory conflict during Virtual Reality (VR), or following loss of a sensory modality. During my PhD, I found that both vestibular reflexes and vestibular perception are altered when visual cues for self-motion are presented in the absence of corresponding vestibular cues, even following very brief visual stimulation. In addition, I proposed an approach to VR-induced motion sickness based on optimal integration of visual and vestibular cues. This approach could inform techniques to reduce cybersickness in VR, improving the user experience. During my current postdoc, I am investigating the integration of audiovisual motion cues during active eye and head movements. When the head and/or eyes move, the brain is faced with a compensation problem to determine actual motion of the visual and/or auditory target. Accordingly, self-motion cues must be integrated with the target cues to accurately perceive motion relative to the observer and world, however the precise mechanism is not currently fully understood.

To address my research questions I use a range of techniques from psychology and cognitive neuroscience, and I am particularly skilled in the use of Galvanic Vestibular Stimulation, psychophysics, and VR. I am interested in following up these studies using MRI, and in more specialist populations.