Wednesday, September 17, 2025 9/17/2025

Bringing the real-world into cognitive neuroscience: From images to real objects

Award Number: R01EY026701
ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL EYE INSTITUTE
OPDIV: NIH
AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY
AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: SCIENTIFIC/HEALTH RESEARCH (INCLUDES SURVEYS)
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 05/01/2016
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 08/31/2028

Group Awards By:

View Award Description

Bringing the real-world into cognitive neuroscience: From images to real objects - PROJECT SUMMARY Our understanding of human vision is based almost exclusively on studies of experimental proxies for reality– typically artificial two-dimensional (2D) pictures. Studying responses to artificial stimuli neglects the fact that humans have evolved and developed in the real world (RW), and that our behavior and brain processes are likely to reflect the important features of tangible objects and environments, including depth, tangibility, actability, and multisensory processing. Yet little is known about how real objects are processed and represented in the brain, and how such responses compare to artificial stimuli. The long-term goal of this research is to elucidate the mechanisms that are engaged during naturalistic vision. The objective of this application is to understand how, and why RW stimuli, compared with proxies, influence behavior and brain responses. The central hypothesis is that response patterns to RW stimuli will be qualitatively different than 2D/3D pictures; these differences will unfold during development, and they will be causally linked with computations in dorsal cortex. These format-related differences will manifest during perception because the statistics of naturalistic contexts are likely to be captured during experience, and because real objects (but not artificial stimuli) are relevant for spatial and multisensory processing, and for action. The rationale for the research is that studying richer stimuli, like those encountered in everyday life, will fundamentally improve our understanding of human brain function, and expand the generalizability and translational value of scientific knowledge to RW settings. The central hypothesis will be tested via three specific aims: (1) Determine how real stimuli modulate behavioral and neural response patterns in adults, (2) Determine how real stimuli modulate neural response patterns during development, and (3) Isolate the causal contribution of dorsal cortex to real object effects. The aims will be examined using behavioral and fMRI studies with adults, and fMRI studies with children and neuropsychological patients with perceptual deficits. The studies employ novel and innovative stimuli, devices, and procedures, designed for presenting large numbers of real objects in rapid succession in the laboratory and the fMRI scanner, under controlled viewing conditions. The contribution of the research is that it will elucidate the psychological and neural systems that are engaged during naturalistic vision. This contribution is significant because it will reveal how the integrated workings of the perception-action systems shapes visual cognition, why these systems should be studied with RW stimuli, and how their activity influences and improves performance.


Issue Date FY	Funding FY	Legal Entity Name	Legal Entity Address	Legal Entity City	Legal Entity State	Legal Entity Zip Code	Legal Entity COUNTY	Legal Entity COUNTRY	Assistance Listing	Award Code	Budget Year	Action Date	Action Type	Action Amount

Issue Date FY: 2025 ( Subtotal = $496,071 )
2025	2025	UNIVERSITY OF UTAH	201 PRESIDENTS CIR	SALT LAKE CITY	UT	84112	SALT LAKE	USA	Vision Research	001	7	8/5/2025	CHANGE OF GRANTEE / TRAINING INSTITUTION / AWARDING INSTITUTION	$496,071
2025	2024	BOARD OF REGENTS OF THE NEVADA SYSTEM OF HIGHER ED	1664 N VIRGINIA ST # 285	RENO	NV	89557	WASHOE	USA	Vision Research	000	6	8/5/2025	COMPETING CONTINUATION	$0
														Subtotal = $496,071

Issue Date FY: 2024 ( Subtotal = $514,778 )
2024	2024	BOARD OF REGENTS OF THE NEVADA SYSTEM OF HIGHER ED	1664 N VIRGINIA ST # 285	RENO	NV	89557	WASHOE	USA	Vision Research	001	6	8/12/2024	COMPETING CONTINUATION	$519,787
2024	2020	BOARD OF REGENTS OF THE NEVADA SYSTEM OF HIGHER ED	1664 N VIRGINIA ST # 285	RENO	NV	89557	WASHOE	USA	Vision Research	000	5	2/15/2024	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	-$5,009
														Subtotal = $514,778

Issue Date FY: 2022 ( Subtotal = $0 )
2022	2020	NEVADA SYSTEM OF HIGHER EDUCATION	1664 N VIRGINIA ST	RENO	NV	89557	WASHOE	USA	Vision Research	000	5	4/18/2022	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$0
														Subtotal = $0

Issue Date FY: 2020 ( Subtotal = $352,858 )
2020	2020	NEVADA SYSTEM OF HIGHER EDUCATION	1664 N VIRGINIA ST	RENO	NV	89557	WASHOE	USA	Vision Research	000	5	5/26/2020	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$352,858
														Subtotal = $352,858

Issue Date FY: 2019 ( Subtotal = $352,858 )
2019	2019	NEVADA SYSTEM OF HIGHER EDUCATION	1664 N VIRGINIA ST	RENO	NV	89557	WASHOE	USA	Vision Research	000	4	5/20/2019	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$352,858
														Subtotal = $352,858

Issue Date FY: 2018 ( Subtotal = $352,858 )
2018	2018	NEVADA SYSTEM OF HIGHER EDUCATION	1664 N VIRGINIA ST	RENO	NV	89557	WASHOE	USA	Vision Research	000	3	5/22/2018	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$352,858
														Subtotal = $352,858

Issue Date FY: 2017 ( Subtotal = $352,858 )
2017	2017	UNIVERSITY OF NEVADA, RENO	1664 N VIRGINIA ST	RENO	NV	89557	WASHOE	USA	Vision Research	000	2	5/1/2017	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$317,572
2017	2017	NEVADA SYSTEM OF HIGHER EDUCATION	1664 N VIRGINIA ST	RENO	NV	89557	WASHOE	USA	Vision Research	001	2	8/14/2017	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$35,286
														Subtotal = $352,858

Issue Date FY: 2016 ( Subtotal = $343,505 )
2016	2016	UNIVERSITY OF NEVADA-RENO	**	RENO	NV	89557	WASHOE	USA	Vision Research	000	1	4/22/2016	NEW	$343,505
														Subtotal = $343,505

Grand Total All Awards = $2,765,786

Top

All Categories

About

Search

Reports

Data Submission

Award Information

Bringing the real-world into cognitive neuroscience: From images to real objects

Award Number: R01EY026701

ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL EYE INSTITUTE

OPDIV: NIH

AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY

AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: SCIENTIFIC/HEALTH RESEARCH (INCLUDES SURVEYS)

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 05/01/2016

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 08/31/2028

Federal Websites

Department of Health & Human Services

HHS Operating Divisions

HHS Staff Divisions

Download A Document Viewer