Scientist Profile Directory

As you read this web page, you probably have a cup of coffee or bottle of water nearby. If you need either, it is a simple matter to look where you remember leaving it, reach out, and accurately pick it up. But, is it really that simple? Think for a moment about how complicated that process actually is, and how remarkably well you do it. When you reach out to pick up the cup of coffee, not only do you direct your arm towards the cup, but the posture of your hand and fingers anticipates the size, shape, and orientation of the cup well before contact is made. When contact is made, the position of the fingers on the object are not random, but rather fall on task-specific locations. One of the things that make these processes possible is your keen sense of vision.

Historically, investigations of eye-hand coordination have involved reaching out to pick up simple, stationary blocks. While this research has moved us towards a better understanding of how the systems controlling perception and action interact, it does not properly capture the complex dynamics of the perceptual and motor interactions seen in our everyday life. Modern applications like gaming and robotics are increasingly relying on natural movements in complex visual scenes. Dr. Marotta’s research is aimed at providing an understanding of how the brain solves these complex scenarios by including more of our lived experiences into investigations of perception and action – creating new ecologically focused pathways to research.

The Perception and Action Lab uses specialized motion tracking systems that follow where the eyes are looking while simultaneously recording the path of the arm, hand and fingers during a reach. By developing experimental paradigms that utilize complex objects, moving targets, cluttered environments and memory guided grasping, Dr. Marotta and his lab are able to investigate a wider range of factors – including not just vision but proprioception (the perception of the movements and position of the body), and not just grip formation but object lifting. This fundamental research will provide a clearer understanding of what information we use, and when we use it, to select where we look at and grasp an object – providing us with critical insight into how the brain is responsible for this important skill.