Seeing is more than the eyes
We study how the visual parts of the brain use information that doesn’t come from the eyes — and what this tells us about perception in sighted and blind people.
How the brain builds what we see
We study how the visual cortex processes information that isn’t visual — when we imagine something with our eyes closed, when an image is hidden from awareness, and in blindness. Our work shows that “vision” is deeply shaped by sound, emotion, action and prior knowledge.
Using brain imaging and behavioural experiments, we ask how the brain represents the world when the eyes are not the whole story — and how the brains of blind people encode space and information from the other senses.
“How does information from audition, emotion, action and cognition influence the visual brain, both in sighted and blind humans?”
What we investigate
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Sound in the visual brain
How everyday sounds and spoken words are represented in the visual areas of the brain — even with the eyes closed.
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Perception without awareness
What the brain processes before we consciously see something, studied with techniques that briefly hide images from awareness.
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Emotion guiding the eyes
How fearful faces attract our gaze — and reach awareness — before we even notice them.
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The blind brain
How the “visual” brain of people born blind represents space, sound and movement.
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Sounds and shapes
Why most people match the made-up word “bouba” to a round shape and “kiki” to a spiky one — and what happens in the visual brain when they do.
Methods in the lab
We combine brain imaging, brain stimulation and precise measurements of behaviour.
- fMRI & pattern analysis
- Retinotopic mapping
- Eye-tracking
- Continuous flash suppression
- Binocular rivalry
- Psychophysics
- Skin conductance
- TMS (brain stimulation)
Help us understand the brain
Our studies need volunteers — sighted, blind and visually impaired.