Mechanisms of Perception and Adaptation

Coordinators

Spokesperson: Prof. Dr. Karl Gegenfurtner
Vice Spokespersons: Prof. Dr. Katja Fiehler
                             Prof. Roland Fleming, Ph.D.

Abstract of Focus Area

Since around 2000, fundamental mechanisms of adaptive behavior in the elementary adaptation of sensory systems as well as in mental disorders and diseases have been researched at JLU. The central aspect here is the dilemma of stability and change. The interdisciplinary research team enjoys a leading position worldwide thanks to excellent publications in the field of perceptual psychology and over 15 years of third-party funded research collaborations, especially with top international universities.

Involved Disciplines

Experimental psychology, developmental psychology, clinical psychology, cognitive psychology, biological psychology, differential psychology, training science, sports psychology, experimental sensorimotor skills

External Cooperation Partners

In Germany:

• Philipps University Marburg: Prof. Dr. Frank Bremmer, Prof. Dr. Tilo Kircher, Prof. Dr. Alexander Schütz, Prof. Dr. Anna Schubö, Prof. Dr. Benjamin Straube, Prof. Dr. Dominik Endres
• Technische Universität Darmstadt: Prof. Dr. Constantin A. Rothkopf, Prof. Dr. Jan Peters, Prof. Dr. Kristian Kersting, Prof. Dr. Stefan Roth

International:

• Laboratoire des Systèmes Perceptifs (CNRS UMR 8248), Paris, Frankreich: Pascal Mamassian, PhD
• York University, Toronto, Kanada: Prof. Niko Troje, PhD; Prof. Doug Crawford, PhD; Prof. Denise Henriques, PhD
• Western University, London, Kanada: Prof. Dr. Mel Goodale, Prof. Jody Culham, PhD
• Queen's University, Kingston, Kanada: Prof. Gunnar Blohm, PhD; Prof. Doug Munoz, PhD

Structures and Programs for Supporting Early Career Researchers

• Gießener Graduiertenzentrum Lebenswissenschaften (GGL), Sektion „Neurosciences”
• Postdoc Career and Mentoring Office (PCMO)
• Fast Track Programm „PreProPsych“
• Etablierung eines internationalen M.Sc. Studiengangs „Mind, Brain & Behavior“
• Einrichtung der „European Summer School for Visual Neurosciences” im Jahr 2004, zunächst gefördert von der Volkswagen-Stiftung, seit 2017 in der Grundfinanzierung (JLU/UMR)
• Int. GRK 1901 – The Brain in Action
• DyViTo: Innovative Training Network (ITN) im Rahmen des Marie Skłodowska-Curie-Programms der EU
• Nachwuchsförderung im Rahmen des CMBB

Most significant scientific achievements since 2018

Structural elements:

• 2018: New funding period for SFB/TRR 135 – Cardinal Mechanisms of Perception
• 2018: Full application as part of the Excellence Strategy of the federal and state governments

External funds / awards

• 2020: Karl Gegenfurtner, ERC Advanced Grant „Color 3.0“
• 2019: Ben de Haas, ERC Starting Grant „Indivisual”

Publications

• 2019: de Haas, B.; Iakovidis, A.L; Schwarzkopf, D.S.; Gegenfurtner, K.R.: „Individual differences in visual salience vary along semantic dimensions.” Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. 2019, 116(24), 11687-11692. (doi: 10.1073/pnas.1820553116)
• 2018: Van Assen, J.J.R.; Barla, P.; Fleming, R.W.: „Visual features in the perception of liquids.” Current Biology. 2018, 28(3), 452-458. (doi: 10.1016/j.cub.2017.12.037)