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Creating a map style from scratch is challenging. Cartographers may find inspirations from artistic paintings and transfer their style to maps. However, the reference painting and the extracted style elements may not fit well with the content and function of maps, resulting in undesirable or even frustrating map stylization. The question of how to choose appropriate paintings as inspirations and utilize their essential visual elements to stylize maps remains unanswered. As neuroscience has developed, an increasing number of neural mechanisms underlying visual perception have been discovered, deepening our understanding of artistic styles and their adaptation to maps. In this paper, we draw connections between visual neurons and style elements of both artistic paintings and maps by examining seven neural mechanisms (i.e. central-peripheral vision, color-to-contour adhesion, double-opponent effects, visual filling-in, orientation selectivity, latency variation, and what-where separation) that are typical of artistic paintings. We also demonstrate that these mechanisms are transferable to maps. We then create a cartographic style syntactics to generally indicate how and to what degree these mechanisms can be reflected in four cartographic stylistic criteria (i.e. identification, expressiveness, aesthetic appeal and emotional impact). Our work contributes to the integration of principles from neuroscience with cartographic design to deepen our understanding of map perception and to facilitate map style transfer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The way that attention affects the processing of visual information is one of the most intriguing fields in the study of visual perception. One way to examine this interaction is by studying the way perceptual aftereffects are modulated by attention. In the present study, we have manipulated attention during adaptation to translational motion generated by coherently moving random dots, in order to investigate the effect of the distraction of attention on the strength of the peripheral dynamic motion aftereffect (MAE). A foveal rapid serial visual presentation task (RSVP) of varying difficulty was introduced during the adaptation period while the adaptation and test stimuli were presented peripherally. Furthermore, to examine the interaction between the physical characteristics of the stimulus and attention, we have manipulated the motion coherence level of the adaptation stimuli. Our results suggested that the removal of attention through an irrelevant task modulated the MAE's magnitude moderately and that such an effect depends on the stimulus strength. We also showed that the MAE still persists with subthreshold and unattended stimuli, suggesting that perhaps attention is not required for the complete development of the MAE. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To trouble internalist narratives of Europe, it is necessary to consider the “external” vectors that went into its making. This paper reads Abdulrazak Gurnah’s Afterlives (2020) as representing a telling instance of such decentering, which warrants particular attention due to the mass mainstream visibility guaranteed by the author’s being awarded the Nobel Prize in 2021. It takes the novel’s tracing of German colonialism as particularly instructive, because German colonial ventures have long remained in the peripheral vision of examinations of European colonialism more broadly, in anglophone postcolonial studies and literary representation. This prompts the article’s intervention in making this other European colonialism its focus. Via an examination of two facets of the novel’s engagement of knowledge-making – naming and recording – I argue that it enacts subversive interruptions of colonial epistemologies. The narrative’s delineating of the journeys of two characters from the colonial “periphery” of East Africa to the colonial “centre” of Germany sees these external Others becoming internal Others on European soil, and requires readers to think German colonialism with what came after. I propose, finally, that in (re)naming and (re)reading archives against the grain, the novel configures ambivalent alternatives to eurocentric knowledge-making, delineating the contours of what colonial archives excise, and gesturing toward what literary fiction can do to sketch flickering presences into some of those absences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Juggling is a very complex activity requiring motor, visual and coordination skills. Expert jugglers experience a "third eye" monitoring leftward and rightward ball zenith positions alternately, in the upper visual fields, while maintaining their gaze straight-ahead. This "third eye" reduces their motor noise (improved body stability and decrease in hand movement variability) as it avoids the numerous head and eye movements that add noise into the system and make trajectories more uncertain. Neuroimaging studies have shown that learning to juggle induces white and grey matter hypertrophy at the posterior intraparietal sulcus. Damage to this brain region leads to optic ataxia, a clinical condition characterised by peripheral pointing bias toward gaze position. We predicted that expert jugglers would, conversely, present better accuracy in a peripheral pointing task. The mean pointing accuracy of expert jugglers was better for peripheral pointing within the upper visual field, compatible with their subjective experience of the "third eye". Further analyses showed that experts exhibited much less between-subject variability than beginners, reinforcing the interpretation of a vertically asymmetrical calibration of peripheral space, characteristic of juggling and homogenous in the expert group. On the contrary, individual pointing variability did not differ between groups neither globally nor in any sector of space, showing that the reduced motor noise of experts in juggling did not transfer to pointing. It is concluded that the plasticity of the posterior intraparietal sulcus related to juggling expertise does not consist of globally improved visual-to-motor ability. It rather consists of peripheral space calibration by practicing horizontal covert shifts of the attentional spotlight within the upper visual field, between left and right ball zenith positions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract In primates, foveal and peripheral vision have distinct neural architectures and functions. However, it has been debated if selective attention operates via the same or different neural mechanisms across eccentricities. We tested these alternative accounts by examining the effects of selective attention on the steady-state visually evoked potential (SSVEP) and the fronto-parietal signal measured via EEG from human subjects performing a sustained visuospatial attention task. With a negligible level of eye movements, both SSVEP and SND exhibited the heterogeneous patterns of attentional modulations across eccentricities. Specifically, the attentional modulations of these signals peaked at the parafoveal locations and such modulations wore off as visual stimuli appeared closer to the fovea or further away towards the periphery. However, with a relatively higher level of eye movements, the heterogeneous patterns of attentional modulations of these neural signals were less robust. These data demonstrate that the top-down influence of covert visuospatial attention on early sensory processing in human cortex depends on eccentricity and the level of saccadic responses. Taken together, the results suggest that sustained visuospatial attention operates differently across different eccentric locations, providing new understanding of how attention augments sensory representations regardless of where the attended stimulus appears.

This article examines the emergence of film culture in Tripura, Northeast India, with a focus on Kokborok and Bengali-language films and music videos. These productions reflect the sociopolitical context of Tripura and serve as expressions of identity, resistance, and hybridity. The article discusses the challenges faced by filmmakers in Tripura, the role of technology in shaping the industry, and the cultural significance of these films. It also explores the historical and demographic context of Tripura and the cultural connections between Bengali-speaking communities across regions and nations. The article argues for the importance of studying films in minor Indian languages to address cultural exclusion and offer alternative perspectives on Indian cinema. [Extracted from the article]

Introduction: In the 1950s and 1960s, John Senders carried out a number of influential experiments on the monitoring of multidegree-of-freedom systems. In these experiments, participants were tasked with detecting events (threshold crossings) for multiple dials, each presenting a signal with different bandwidth. Senders’ analyses showed a nearly linear relationship between signal bandwidth and the amount of attention paid to the dial, and he argued that humans sample according to bandwidth, in line with the Nyquist–Shannon sampling theorem. Objective: The current study tested whether humans indeed sample the dials based on bandwidth alone or whether they also use salient peripheral cues. Methods: A dial-monitoring task was performed by 33 participants. In half of the trials, a gaze-contingent window was used that blocked peripheral vision. Results: The results showed that, without peripheral vision, humans do not effectively distribute their attention across the dials. The findings also suggest that, when given full view, humans can detect the speed of the dial using their peripheral vision. Conclusion: It is concluded that salience and bandwidth are both drivers of distributed visual attention in a dialmonitoring task. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Retinitis pigmentosa (RP) is the leading cause of heritable retinal visual impairment. Clinically, it is characterized by a variable onset of progressive night blindness and visual field constriction. RP is characterized by wide genetic heterogeneity with a broad range of potential genes involved in the genesis of this disease. Very few cases have been reported of RP due to pathogenic variants in AGBL5. We report two patients with RP and bilallelic pathogenic variants in AGBL5. Genetic sequencing showed one homozygous AGBL5 missense variant in one patient and a homozygous nonsense variant in the other. These patients presented with progressive peripheral vision loss and nyctalopia. Their RP phenotypes were similar to previous reports in literature. These two cases provide further evidence regarding the relationship of pathogenic variants in AGBL5 as a cause of autosomal recessive RP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Falls are a major health concern. Existing augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality solutions for fall prevention aim to improve balance in dedicated training sessions. We propose a novel AR prototype as an assistive wearable device to improve balance and prevent falls in daily life. We use a custom head-mounted display toolkit to present augmented visual orientation cues in the peripheral field of view. The cues provide a continuous space-stationary visual reference frame for balance control using the user’s tracked head position. In a proof of concept study, users performed a series of balance trials to test the effect of the displayed visual cues on body sway. Our results showed that body sway can be reduced with our device, indicating improved balance. We also showed that superimposed movements of the visual reference in forward-backward or sideways directions induce respective sway responses. This indicates a direction-specific balance integration of the displayed cues. Based on our findings, we conclude that artificially generated visual orientation cues using AR can improve balance and could possibly reduce fall risk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Construction safety is always an issue for construction workers. Hence, personal protective equipment plays a critical role in avoiding potential hazards on construction sites. Among these, hard hats protect against head contact with falling objects on construction sites. This study aims to examine the effects of hard hats with different peak lengths on the field of view at different angles in the upward part and to examine the effects of possible field of view losses caused by the hard hat on the reaction times of the workers. A questionnaire was designed and administered to the construction workers. Experiments were then conducted with a group of subjects to assess their peripheral vision level as well as reaction times. The study found that peripheral vision is affected by the peak size of hard hats. The study further revealed that there is a significant relationship between reaction times and hard hat peak size. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In primates, foveal and peripheral vision have distinct neural architectures and functions. However, it has been debated if selective attention operates via the same or different neural mechanisms across eccentricities. We tested these alternative accounts by examining the effects of selective attention on the steady-state visually evoked potential (SSVEP) and the fronto-parietal signal measured via EEG from human subjects performing a sustained visuospatial attention task. With a negligible level of eye movements, both SSVEP and SND exhibited the heterogeneous patterns of attentional modulations across eccentricities. Specifically, the attentional modulations of these signals peaked at the parafoveal locations and such modulations wore off as visual stimuli appeared closer to the fovea or further away towards the periphery. However, with a relatively higher level of eye movements, the heterogeneous patterns of attentional modulations of these neural signals were less robust. These data demonstrate that the top-down influence of covert visuospatial attention on early sensory processing in human cortex depends on eccentricity and the level of saccadic responses. Taken together, the results suggest that sustained visuospatial attention operates differently across different eccentric locations, providing new understanding of how attention augments sensory representations regardless of where the attended stimulus appears. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Visual abilities tend to vary predictably across the visual field–for simple low-level stimuli, visibility is better along the horizontal vs. vertical meridian and in the lower vs. upper visual field. In contrast, face perception abilities have been reported to show either distinct or entirely idiosyncratic patterns of variation in peripheral vision, suggesting a dissociation between the spatial properties of low- and higher-level vision. To assess this link more clearly, we extended methods used in low-level vision to develop an acuity test for face perception, measuring the smallest size at which facial gender can be reliably judged in peripheral vision. In 3 experiments, we show the characteristic inversion effect, with better acuity for upright faces than inverted, demonstrating the engagement of high-level face-selective processes in peripheral vision. We also observe a clear advantage for gender acuity on the horizontal vs. vertical meridian and a smaller-but-consistent lower- vs. upper-field advantage. These visual field variations match those of low-level vision, indicating that higher-level face processing abilities either inherit or actively maintain the characteristic patterns of spatial selectivity found in early vision. The commonality of these spatial variations throughout the visual hierarchy means that the location of faces in our visual field systematically influences our perception of them. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Visual cortex anodal transcranial direct current stimulation (a-tDCS) has been shown to reduce crowding in normal peripheral vision and may improve the reading of English words in patients with macular degeneration. Given the different visual requirements of reading English words and Chinese characters, the effect of a-tDCS on peripheral reading performance in English might differ from Chinese. This study recruited 20 participants (59-73 years of age) with normal vision and tested the hypothesis that a-tDCS would improve the reading of Chinese characters presented at 10°C eccentricity compared with sham stimulation. Chinese sentences of different print sizes and exposure durations were presented one character at a time, 10°C below or to the left of fixation. The individual critical print size (CPS) - the smallest print size eliciting the maximum reading speed (MRS) - was determined. Reading accuracies for characters presented 0.2 logMAR smaller than the individually fitted CPS were measured at four time points: before, during, 5 min after, and 30 min after receiving active or sham visual cortex a-tDCS. Participants completed both the active and sham sessions in a random order following a double-blind, within-subject design. No effect of active a-tDCS on reading accuracy was observed, implying that a single session of a-tDCS did not improve Chinese character reading in normal peripheral vision. This may suggest that a-tDCS does not significantly reduce the crowding elicited within a single Chinese character. However, the effect of a-tDCS on between-character crowding is yet to be determined. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Investigation of visual illusions helps us understand how we process visual information. For example, face pareidolia, the misperception of illusory faces in objects, could be used to understand how we process real faces. However, it remains unclear whether this illusion emerges from errors in face detection or from slower, cognitive processes. Here, our logic is straightforward; if examples of face pareidolia activate the mechanisms that rapidly detect faces in visual environments, then participants will look at objects more quickly when the objects also contain illusory faces. To test this hypothesis, we sampled continuous eye movements during a fast saccadic choice task—participants were required to select either faces or food items. During this task, pairs of stimuli were positioned close to the initial fixation point or further away, in the periphery. As expected, the participants were faster to look at face targets than food targets. Importantly, we also discovered an advantage for food items with illusory faces but, this advantage was limited to the peripheral condition. These findings are among the first to demonstrate that the face pareidolia illusion persists in the periphery and, thus, it is likely to be a consequence of erroneous face detection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the recent progress made in areas such as head-mounted displays and vision-correcting devices, there is a growing interest in fast and personalized algorithms for simulating aberrated human vision. Existing vision-simulating approaches are generally hindered by the lack of personalization, computational cost of rendering, and limited types of supported aberrations. This paper presents a fast vision simulation method with interactive personalization capabilities for simulating arbitrary central and peripheral aberrations of the human eye. First, we describe a novel, neural network-based solution for efficiently estimating the physical structure of the simulated eye and calculating the necessary Zernike aberration coefficients for computing the point-spread functions with varying pupil sizes, focus distances, and incidence angles. Our new approach operates in the sub-second regime and produces highly accurate outputs, facilitating the interactive personalization of vision simulation. Next, we present an improved PSF interpolation method for an existing tiled PSF splatting algorithm for rendering. The proposed algorithm significantly improves the computational performance and memory efficiency of the previous approach, allowing the simulation of peripheral vision with arbitrary visual aberrations in low-latency applications. Following the description of our new techniques, we evaluate their performance characteristics and simulation accuracies on several different eye conditions and test scenarios and compare our results to several previous vision simulation algorithms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pupil‐size changes are typically associated with the pupil light response (PLR), where they are driven by the physical entry of light into the eye. However, pupil‐size changes are also influenced by various cognitive processes, where they are driven by higher‐level cognition. For example, the strength of the PLR is not solely affected by physical properties of the light but also by cognitive factors, such as whether the source of light is attended or not, which results in an increase or decrease in the strength of the PLR. Surprisingly, although cognitively driven pupil‐size changes have been the focus of extensive research, their possible functions are rarely discussed. Here we consider the relative (dis)advantages of small versus large pupils in different situations from a theoretical point of view, and compare these to empirical results showing how pupil size actually changes in these situations. Based on this, we suggest that cognitively driven pupil‐size changes optimize vision either through preparation, embodied representations, or a differential emphasis on central or peripheral vision. More generally, we argue that cognitively driven pupil‐size changes are a form of sensory tuning: a subtle adjustment of the eyes to optimize vision for the current situation and the immediate future. This article is categorized under:Neuroscience > CognitionNeuroscience > PhysiologyNeuroscience > Behavior [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Previous studies have focused on task/ambient illumination for visual effects and eye illumination for non-visual effects. In this context, eye illumination within the non-visual realm was defined as vertical non-visual eye illuminance. Considering the functional specificity of central vision and peripheral vision, this study aims to explore whether the distribution of eye illuminance in the horizontal field of view (FOV) affects human performance in home paper-based learning settings. In this study, a within-subject design was used to investigate the effects of eye illuminance distribution on mental perception, task performance, and physiological health while maintaining constant task illuminance and correlated color temperature (CCT). The findings revealed that eye illuminance and its distribution in the horizontal FOV had complex effects on visual fatigue, Landolt ring performance, heart rate variability, and luminous environment appraisal. A relatively optimal lighting configuration was suggested—Scene 4, which was characterized by an eye illuminance level in central FOV of 186 lx and an "m" shaped eye illuminance distribution pattern. This indicates the importance of considering eye illuminance distribution in the horizontal FOV, rather than solely focusing on vertical eye illuminance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study explores how lighting can be employed as a visual language to enhance communication between the space and its users and develop a design framework for educational spaces. A primary school is used as a case study to apply the proposed design framework. The study focuses on lighting interventions in existing educational spaces to support daily schedules and transitions between activities. In this context, electric light is used as an indicator, highlighting the daily schedule and activities in the space. A theoretical approach is used as a foundation for establishing the design framework that leads to lighting proposals based on the specific spatial characteristics of each study. The outcome is a design solution based on the dominant spatial elements that define the space's identity and function. The study focuses on educational spaces and lighting for peripheral vision while considering pupils' visual and spatial development. The proposal has the role of an additional light layer that signals transitions in terms of activities or spatial mobility. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We examine in this work the desirability and preferences of people with visual impairments for assistive vision, i.e., vision rehabilitation and enhancement, delivered by smart eyewear devices. We present results from a vignette experiment with N = 17 participants with visual impairments, who reported their preferences regarding 32 hypothetical scenarios that we formulated for assistive vision, e.g., long-distance vision, peripheral vision, highly sensitive perception of colors, thermal vision, night vision, and others. Our results show higher desirability (average score of 4.21 out of 5) for assistive vision scenarios addressing rehabilitation of lost vision functions compared to scenarios that propose Augmented Reality-based enhancements of human vision (3.76) or visual perception in other regions of the electromagnetic spectrum, such as thermal or infrared vision (3.36). To understand these results, we conduct a second vignette study involving N = 178 participants without visual impairments, for which we report lower desirability for vision augmentation (3.44/5) compared to participants with visual impairments (3.75/5). We discuss implications of our results for augmented and mediated vision delivered by smart eyewear devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Visual crowding, the phenomenon in which the ability to distinguish objects is hindered in cluttered environments, has critical implications for various ophthalmic and neurological disorders. Traditional methods for assessing crowding involve time-consuming and attention-demanding psychophysical tasks, making routine examination challenging. This study sought to compare trial-based Alternative Forced-Choice (AFC) paradigms using either manual or eye movement responses and a continuous serial search paradigm employing eye movement responses to evaluate their efficiency in rapidly assessing peripheral crowding. In all paradigms, we manipulated the orientation of a central Gabor patch, which could be presented alone or surrounded by six Gabor patches. We measured participants' target orientation discrimination thresholds using adaptive psychophysics to assess crowding magnitude. Depending on the paradigm, participants either made saccadic eye movements to the target location or responded manually by pressing a key or moving a mouse. We compared these paradigms in terms of crowding magnitude, assessment time, and paradigm demand. Our results indicate that employing eye movement-based paradigms for assessing peripheral visual crowding yields results faster compared to paradigms that necessitate manual responses. Furthermore, when considering similar levels of confidence in the threshold measurements, both a novel serial search paradigm and an eye movementbased 6AFC paradigm proved to be the most efficient in assessing crowding magnitude. Additionally, crowding estimates obtained through either the continuous serial search or the 6AFC paradigms were consistently higher than those obtained using the 2AFC paradigms. Lastly, participants did not report a clear difference between paradigms in terms of their perceived demand. In conclusion, both the continuous serial search and the 6AFC eye movement response paradigms enable a fast assessment of visual crowding. These approaches may potentially facilitate future routine crowding assessment. However, the usability of these paradigms in specific patient populations and specific purposes should be assessed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Falls in older adults are a significant public health concern, and age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and glaucoma have been identified as potential visual risk factors. This study was designed to assess equilibrium function, fall risk, and fall-related self-efficacy (an individual's belief in their capacity to act in ways necessary to reach specific goals) in patients with AMD and glaucoma. Methods: This observational study was performed at the Otorhinolaryngology Department of Shinseikai Toyama Hospital. The cohort comprised 60 participants (AMD; n = 30; median age, 76.0 years; and glaucoma; n = 30; median age, 64.5 years). Visual acuity and visual fields were assessed using the decimal best-corrected visual acuity and Humphrey visual field tests, respectively. The evaluation metrics included pathological eye movement analysis, bedside head impulse test, single-leg upright test, eye-tracking test, optokinetic nystagmus, and posturography. Furthermore, we administered questionnaires for fall risk determinants including the Dizziness Handicap Inventory, Activities-Specific Balance Confidence Scale, Falls Efficacy Scale-International, and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale. The collected data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, and Spearman's correlation analysis was employed to examine the interrelations among the equilibrium function, fall risk, and other pertinent variables. Results: Most participants exhibited standard outcomes in equilibrium function evaluations. Visual acuity and field deficits had a minimal impact on subjective dizziness manifestations, degree of disability, and fall-related self-efficacy. Both groups predominantly showed high self-efficacy. No significant correlation was observed between visual acuity or field deficits and body equilibrium function or fall risk. However, greater peripheral visual field impairment was associated with a tendency for sensory reweighting from visual to somatosensory. Conclusion: Self-efficacy was higher and fall risk was relatively lower among patients with mild-to-moderate visual impairment, with a tendency for sensory reweighting from visual to somatosensory in those with greater peripheral visual field impairment. Further studies are required to validate these findings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article explores the evolving definition of the word in early Northwest Semitic writing. The author argues that the practice of dividing words did not exist in the early stages of alphabetic writing, but developed over time. The concept of a word is complex and elusive, with no clear and unambiguous definition. The article also discusses the absence of a word for "word" in cultures without a literary tradition and examines evidence from ancient writing systems in Mesopotamia and Egypt. The text discusses the use of word dividers in ancient writing systems, specifically cuneiform and Egyptian hieroglyphs. It explains that cuneiform did not visually mark the divisions between words, making silent reading difficult, while Egyptian hieroglyphs built word division into the writing system. The text suggests that the lack of word dividers in early alphabetic inscriptions was intentional, as these texts were not meant to be read but rather written for specific purposes. The early alphabet was designed to be simple to write but not easy to read, as it was not intended for communication. The text discusses the development and use of word dividers in ancient alphabetic inscriptions. It explains that word dividers were introduced relatively quickly and became a common feature in Late Bronze and Iron Age alphabetic texts. However, there is no clear consensus on the rules governing their use, and different traditions and schools of thought emerged. The text also highlights the inconsistency in word division practices across different dialects and genres of writing. This article discusses [Extracted from the article]

After loss of central vision following retinal pathologies such as macular degeneration (MD), patients often adopt compensatory strategies including developing a preferred retinal locus (PRL) to replace the fovea in tasks involving fixation. A key question is whether patients develop multi-purpose PRLs or whether their oculomotor strategies adapt to the demands of the task. While most MD patients develop a PRL, clinical evidence suggests that patients may develop multiple PRLs and switch between them according to the task at hand. To understand this, we examined a model of central vision loss in normally seeing individuals and tested whether they used the same or different PRLs across tasks after training. Nineteen participants trained for 10 sessions on contrast detection while in conditions of gaze-contingent, simulated central vision loss. Before and after training, peripheral looking strategies were evaluated during tasks measuring visual acuity, reading abilities and visual search. To quantify strategies in these disparate, naturalistic tasks, we measured and compared the amount of task-relevant information at each of 8 equally spaced, peripheral locations, while participants performed the tasks. Results showed that some participants used consistent viewing strategies across tasks whereas other participants strategies differed depending on task. This novel method allows quantification of peripheral vision use even in relatively ecological tasks. These results represent one of the first examinations of peripheral viewing strategies across tasks in simulated vision loss. Results suggest that individual differences in peripheral looking strategies following simulated central vision loss may model those developed in pathological vision loss.

Whenever a visual scene is cast onto the retina, much of it will appear degraded due to poor resolution in the periphery; moreover, optical defocus can cause blur in central vision. However, the pervasiveness of blurry or degraded input is typically overlooked in the training of convolutional neural networks (CNNs). We hypothesized that the absence of blurry training inputs may cause CNNs to rely excessively on high spatial frequency information for object recognition, thereby causing systematic deviations from biological vision. We evaluated this hypothesis by comparing standard CNNs with CNNs trained on a combination of clear and blurry images. We show that blur-trained CNNs outperform standard CNNs at predicting neural responses to objects across a variety of viewing conditions. Moreover, blur-trained CNNs acquire increased sensitivity to shape information and greater robustness to multiple forms of visual noise, leading to improved correspondence with human perception. Our results provide multi-faceted neurocomputational evidence that blurry visual experiences may be critical for conferring robustness to biological visual systems. The phenomenon of blurry or degraded visual input in humans has been overlooked in the training of convolutional neural networks (CNNs). Here, the authors show that blur-trained CNNs outperform standard CNNs in predicting neural responses to objects and show improved correspondence with human perception. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Peripheral vision is known to be critical for spatial navigation. However, visual cognition, which impacts peripheral vision, has not been studied extensively in glaucoma. Spatial memory was assessed with a known to induce a robust memory distortion called "boundary extension" in which participants erroneously remember seeing more of a scene than was present in the sensory input. Fifteen patients with glaucoma and 15 age-matched normally sighted controls participated in the experiment. Participants were shown 10 photographs of natural scenes randomly displayed for 0.5 s or 10 s. Following each scene, the participant was asked to draw it from memory. On average, boundary extension was larger, by 12%, for patients than for controls, but the difference was significant for 4 photographs. Patients tended to add more space between the object and the edges than there was between the objects and the border of the photograph. A control experiment in which participants were asked to draw isolated objects without scene context resulted in a significant reduction of the memory distortion in both groups, but patients still drew the objects smaller than controls. The reduced field of view in glaucoma has an impact on spatial memory for scenes and on perception of size. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Volleyball spiking requires defenders to possess exceptional anticipatory skills. However, most volleyball defense video eye-tracking studies have used fixed or off-court perspectives, failing to replicate real-world environments. This study explored different visual search behaviors between elite and novice volleyball players from various viewing perspectives using video eye tracking. We examined spiking anticipation in 14 competitive elite, 13 semi-elite, and 11 novice players. We captured spiking videos from three on-court perspectives using GoPro cameras mounted on the defenders' heads, closely replicating real game scenarios. For comparison, we recorded baseline videos using a fixed camera. The present study revealed that competitive and semi-elite players demonstrated higher accuracy than novices. Competitive elite players used fewer fixations, indicating that their superior performance was related to stable visual search patterns. All participant groups, regardless of skill level, showed similar visual allocation among areas of interest (AOIs). However, notable differences in visual search patterns and AOI allocation were observed between baseline and on-court perspective videos. From the baseline perspective, the participants primarily utilized global perception and peripheral vision, focusing more on the setter zone or the spiker's trunk. Conversely, from the on-court perspective, they employed more fixations, focusing more intensely on the spiker's detailed movements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: It is currently still unknown why some drivers with visual field loss can compensate well for their visual impairment while others adopt ineffective strategies. This paper contributes to the methodological investigation of the associated top-down mechanisms and aims at validating a theoretical model on the requirements for successful compensation among drivers with homonymous visual field loss. Methods: A driving simulator study was conducted with eight participants with homonymous visual field loss and eight participants with normal vision. Participants drove through an urban surrounding and experienced a baseline scenario and scenarios with visual precursors indicating increased likelihoods of crossing hazards. Novel measures for the assessment of the mental model of their visual abilities, the mental model of the driving scene and the perceived attention demand were developed and used to investigate the top-down mechanisms behind attention allocation and hazard avoidance. Results: Participants with an overestimation of their visual field size tended to prioritize their seeing side over their blind side both in subjective and objective measures. The mental model of the driving scene showed close relations to the subjective and actual attention allocation. While participants with homonymous visual field loss were less anticipatory in their usage of the visual precursors and showed poorer performances compared to participants with normal vision, the results indicate a stronger reliance on top-down mechanism for drivers with visual impairments. A subjective focus on the seeing side or on near peripheries more frequently led to bad performances in terms of collisions with crossing cyclists. Conclusion: The study yielded promising indicators for the potential of novel measures to elucidate top-down mechanisms in drivers with homonymous visual field loss. Furthermore, the results largely support the model of requirements for successful compensatory scanning. The findings highlight the importance of individualized interventions and driver assistance systems tailored to address these mechanisms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To evaluate the short‐term effects of three myopia‐control lenses, which impose peripheral myopic defocus while providing clear central vision, on central and peripheral visual performance in myopic children. Methods: Twenty‐one myopic children were enrolled in the study. Central visual performance was assessed using the quick contrast sensitivity function. Peripheral visual performance was evaluated by measuring peripheral contrast threshold and global motion perception, while subjects maintained fixation through the central portion of the lens. Single‐vision spectacle lenses (SVL), spectacle lenses with highly aspherical lenslets (HAL) and defocus‐incorporated soft contact (DISC) lenses were evaluated in random order, followed by orthokeratology (OK) lenses. All tests were performed monocularly on the right eye. Results: The area under the log contrast sensitivity function (AULCSF) with DISC lenses was lower than that with SVL (1.14 vs. 1.40, p < 0.001) and HAL (1.14 vs. 1.33, p = 0.001). HAL increased the temporal visual field contrast threshold compared with OK lenses (p = 0.04), and OK lenses decreased the superior visual field contrast threshold compared with that of SVL (p = 0.04) and HAL (p = 0.005). HAL also increased the peripheral coherence threshold for identifying the contraction movement compared with OK lenses (p = 0.01). Conclusions: The short‐term use of these optical interventions for myopia control exhibited measurable differences in central and peripheral visual performance. Relevant attention could be paid to these differences, especially when children switch to different treatments. DISC lenses exhibited worse central contrast sensitivity than SVL and HAL. Imposing peripheral defocus signals did not affect children's peripheral visual performance compared with SVL. However, considering the poorer peripheral visual performance provided by HAL, OK lenses are recommended for children if there are specific demands for global scene recognition and motion perception. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Craig DeLancey's book, "Consciousness as complex event: toward a new physicalism," offers a theory of qualitative experience based on "descriptive complexity." DeLancey argues that consciousness is essentially Kolmogorov complex, meaning it cannot be fully described without losing information. The book explores the idea that current theories and concepts are insufficient to capture the complexity of conscious experience, leading to an explanatory gap. DeLancey also challenges traditional thought experiments and argues for a shift in focus to simpler cases of consciousness. Overall, the book provides fresh insights into the nature of consciousness and its relationship to physicalism. [Extracted from the article]

The center‐periphery visual field axis guides early visual system organization with enhanced resources devoted to central vision leading to reduced peripheral performance relative to that of central vision (i.e., behavioral eccentricity effect) for many visual functions. The center‐periphery organization extends to high‐order visual cortex where, for example, the well‐studied face‐sensitive fusiform face area (FFA) shows sensitivity to central vision and the place‐sensitive parahippocampal place area (PPA) shows sensitivity to peripheral vision. As we have recently found that face perception is more sensitive to eccentricity than place perception, here we examined whether these behavioral findings reflect differences in FFA's and PPA's sensitivities to eccentricity. We assumed FFA would show higher sensitivity to eccentricity than PPA would, but that both regions' modulation by eccentricity would be invariant to the viewed category. We parametrically investigated (fMRI, n = 32) how FFA's and PPA's activations are modulated by eccentricity (≤8°) and category (upright/inverted faces/houses) while keeping stimulus size constant. As expected, FFA showed an overall higher sensitivity to eccentricity than PPA. However, both regions' activation modulations by eccentricity were dependent on the viewed category. In FFA, a reduction of activation with growing eccentricity ("BOLD eccentricity effect") was found (with different amplitudes) for all categories. In PPA however, qualitatively different BOLD eccentricity effect modulations were found (e.g., at 8° mild BOLD eccentricity effect for houses but a reverse BOLD eccentricity effect for faces and no modulation for inverted faces). Our results emphasize that peripheral vision investigations are critical to further our understanding of visual processing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The binocular Esterman visual field test (EVFT) of 120 points was the first method to quantify the defects in the binocular visual field. It is used in many parts of the world as a standard test to determine whether an individual has the visual capabilities to drive safely. In Japan, it is required for the grading and issuance of visual disability certificates. The purpose of this study was to determine the reliability of the EVFT results. We studied 104 patients who had undergone the binocular EVFT at Mie University Hospital. Their mean age was 68.0 ± 11.4 years, and the best-corrected visual acuity of the better eye was 0.18 ± 0.38 logMAR units. The EVFT was performed twice on the same day, and the results of the first and second tests were compared. The mean Esterman scores for the first and second test were 89.3 ± 30.5 and 89.1 ± 30.2, respectively, and the test times were 338.9 ± 86.8 and 336.7 ± 76.4 s, respectively. The differences were not significant (p = 0.69 and p = 0.33). In the Bland–Altman analyses (second–first test) of the Esterman scores, the mean difference was 0.38 without significant fixed errors (p = 0.20) or proportional errors (p = 0.27). The limits of agreement within the 1.96 standard deviation were −8.96 to +9.45 points. The agreement rate for the most peripheral 24 test points was significantly lower than the agreement rate for the other 96 test points (p < 0.01). The agreement rate of the upper visual field was significantly lower than that of the lower field (p < 0.01). The overall reliability rate of the EVFT is acceptable, but the peripheral and upper test points have relatively low reliability rates. These findings are important for interpretations of the EVFT results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In basketball defence, it is impossible to keep track of all players without peripheral vision. This is the first study to investigate peripheral vision usage in an experimentally controlled setup, with sport-specific basketball stimuli from a first-person perspective, large viewing eccentricities (up to 90° to the left and right), and natural action responses. A CAVE and a motion-tracking system was used to project the scenarios and capture movement responses of high- and low-skilled basketball players, respectively. Four video conditions were created: (1) a simple reaction time task without crowding (only attackers), (2) a simple reaction time task with crowding (with attackers and defenders), (3) a choice-reaction time task where the player cutting to the basket eventually passed the ball to another player and (4) a game simulation. The results indicated eccentricity effects in all tests, a crowding effect in condition 2, and expertise differences in conditions 3 and 4 only. These findings suggest that viewing eccentricity has an impact on response times, that crowding is a limiting factor for peripheral perception in sports games, and that high-skilled but not low-skilled players can compensate for eccentricity effects in real game situations, indicating their superior positioning and perceptual strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The human brain can rapidly represent sets of similar stimuli by their ensemble summary statistics, like the average orientation or size. Classic models assume that ensemble statistics are computed by integrating all elements with equal weight. Challenging this view, here, we show that ensemble statistics are estimated by combining parafoveal and foveal statistics in proportion to their reliability. In a series of experiments, observers reproduced the average orientation of an ensemble of stimuli under varying levels of visual uncertainty. Results: Ensemble statistics were affected by multiple spatial biases, in particular, a strong and persistent bias towards the center of the visual field. This bias, evident in the majority of subjects and in all experiments, scaled with uncertainty: the higher the uncertainty in the ensemble statistics, the larger the bias towards the element shown at the fovea. Conclusion: Our findings indicate that ensemble perception cannot be explained by simple uniform pooling. The visual system weights information anisotropically from both the parafovea and the fovea, taking the intrinsic spatial anisotropies of vision into account to compensate for visual uncertainty. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study investigated whether the integration of separate parts into a whole-object representation varies with the amount of available attentional resources. To this end, two experiments were performed, which required observers to maintain central fixation while searching in peripheral vision for a target among various distractor configurations. The target could either be a "grouped" whole-object Kanizsa figure, or an "ungrouped" configuration of identical figural parts, but which do not support object completion processes to the same extent. In the experiments, accuracies and changes in pupil size were assessed, with the latter reflecting a marker of the covert allocation of attention in the periphery. Experiment 1 revealed a performance benefit for grouped (relative to ungrouped) targets, which increased with decreasing distance from fixation. By contrast, search for ungrouped targets was comparably poor in accuracy without revealing any eccentricity-dependent variation. Moreover, measures of pupillary dilation mirrored this eccentricity-dependent advantage in localizing grouped targets. Next, in Experiment 2, an additional attention-demanding foveal task was introduced in order to further reduce the availability of attentional resources for the peripheral detection task. This additional task hampered performance overall, alongside with corresponding pupil size changes. However, there was still a substantial benefit for grouped over ungrouped targets in both the behavioral and the pupillometric data. This shows that perceptual grouping scales with the allocation of attention even when only residual attentional resources are available to trigger the representation of a complete (target) object, thus illustrating that object completion operates in the "near absence" of attention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article, published in the Journal of Neurological Surgery, discusses a case of sudden-onset unilateral blindness caused by a posterior ethmoid mucocele. Mucoceles are cyst-like masses that can occur due to impaired mucociliary drainage in the paranasal sinuses. The patient in this case had a history of previous sinus surgery and experienced vision loss after an unrelated appendectomy. The article highlights the rarity of mucoceles in the posterior ethmoid and sphenoid sinuses, particularly in Onodi cells, which have a higher prevalence in Asian populations. The authors propose that the acute symptom onset may be related to perioperative hemodynamics or infection. Surgical treatment is recommended for mucoceles, with a high chance of visual recovery. [Extracted from the article]

Pseudoxanthoma elasticum (PXE) is an autosomal recessive condition caused by mutations in the ABCC6 gene. Ocular features include angioid streaks, peau d'orange fundus, and drusen. We report a novel ABCC6 mutation causing PXE in a patient with a mixed phenotype of PXE and retinitis pigmentosa (RP). A 37-year-old female presented with decreased peripheral vision and nyctalopia. Ocular imaging revealed angioid streaks emanating from the optic nerve as well as peripheral pigmentary changes and bone spicules. Genetic testing revealed two mutations in ABCC6 in trans. No other mutation was identified. We present a rare case with ocular findings of PXE and RP in a patient with a novel ABCC6 mutation. The patient presented both with peripheral pigmentary changes and angioid streaks. Further investigation into this novel mutation would be beneficial to determine if the mutation is involved in the RP phenotype. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Retinitis pigmentosa (RP) is a group of rare, inherited retinal disorders characterized by poor night vision, poor peripheral vision and an overall decline in visual acuity due to progressive degeneration of rod photoreceptors followed by cone photoreceptors. Aim To study the various manifestations, ocular and systemic associations of retinitis pigmentosa. Methods This is a case series of 18 patients of Retinitis Pigmentosa done over a period of 1 year. A brief history was obtained, followed by visual acuity assessment, complete ocular examination, direct and indirect ophthalmoscopy examination, and fundus photography. These patients were evaluated for systemic associations as well. Other specialty evaluations were advised when required. Results A total of 18 patients were included out of which 13 patients were males and 5 patients were females. Most of them were in the age group of 15-30 years. 60% of total patients had vision <6/60. Anterior segment findings include posterior subcapsular cataract in 50% and keratoconus in 5% of patients. Posterior segment findings include pigmentary bony spicules involving mid-periphery and beyond in 77%, central and patchy distribution in 23%. Consecutive optic atrophy was identified in 44%, cellophane maculopathy in 33%, cystoid macular edema in 5%. Myopic changes were found in 16%, glaucomatous changes in 11%. Sensorineural hearing loss was identified in 22%, polydactyly, truncal obesity and alopecia were noted in 1 patient each. Conclusion Retinitis Pigmentosa can be found in isolation (Typical RP) or in association with a variety of systemic disease presentation (Syndromic RP)- with Usher's syndrome being the most common syndromic association. Patients present with Nyctalopia, and peripheral vision loss. Visual acuity is affected late in disease but can be affected early due to Posterior Subcapsular Cataract, Cystoid macular edema, foveal atrophy. Electroretinography becomes abnormal very early in the disease and hence aids in diagnosis. Perimetry, Fluorescein angiography, Optical coherence Tomography are other imaging modalities. Low vision aids are useful to these patients. Gene therapy, Stem cell research, and retinal implants are various other treatment modalities available. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The paper aims to provide managerial recommendations for implementing circular economy (CE) principles in both organizational and interorganizational contexts, including when using digital tools, such as building information modeling (BIM) and blockchain. Drawn from the construction sector in the Netherlands, the findings can be generalized to similar sectors where a company may receive multiple inputs as part of its supply chain augmented by digital technologies. Design/methodology/approach: Design addresses the research question: what are the strategic and tactical approaches of organizations on the CE pathway? Sub-questions target initiatives pursued by participants, and look toward information, roles and functions for supporting the CE process. Applying a multiple-case study approach (21 semi-structured interviews with 29 participants) the paper explores strategic initiatives of construction companies implementing CE pathways. The strength of the research design comes from facilitation of rich and deep qualitative insights from Netherlands-based managers embedded within global supply chains contributing to conceptual mapping. A limitation is data from one country (though representing both national and multinational companies). Findings: Interviewed managers share guidance for production-related construction companies anchored in materials and product design. Recommendations include to (1) develop both internally and externally the awareness of CE amongst leaders, (2) communicate with internal and external stakeholders for shared vision across the supply chain, (3) start with pilot projects, and (4) ensure product data-integration for CE business models through computer modeling and blockchain for decision-making processes, choices of materials, business model coordination and product (re)design. Continuous learning about CE roles and responsibilities amidst organizational process restructuring is required throughout linear to CE transitions. Extending the time for the CE principles evaluation process would allow for reconsideration of decisions made for CE implemented projects. Originality/value: A novel CE gameplan with a hurdles and recommendations checklist provides an operational interface with decision making points between internal factors for the host organization and external supply chain partners. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

INTRODUCTION: Preselection of pilot candidates in the military is critical and determines the quality of subsequent selection. The Aero Medical Institute in Belgrade uses the following centrifuge endpoints: peripheral vision loss, heart rate above 180 bpm, cardiac arrhythmias, and G-induced loss of consciousness to assess relaxed +Gz tolerance. The aim of this study was to evaluate heart rate variability (HRV) associated with cardiovascular adaptability to different types of stress as a predictor of +Gz tolerance. METHODS: Thirty-six candidates were exposed to centrifuge runs, consisting of the following +Gz-acceleration phases: a 2-G plateau followed by an increase to 5.5 G, a decrease to 2 G, and ending with a plateau. Time-domain HRV indices were calculated for candidates, for a 60-s 2-G plateau, and for the entire test. The correlation was made between the groups that did (Group 1) and did not meet the criteria (Group 2). RESULTS: The results show significantly lower values in all time domain HRV indices, namely standard deviation of the normal-tonormal interval (SDNN) and root mean square of successive differences, in Group 2. Mean SDNN values were 45.98 ± 24.80 ms (2-G plateau) and 109.99 ± 39.64 ms (entire test) in Group 1, while the SDNN were 22.99 ± 12.04 ms and 69.70 ± 33.45 ms in Group 2. Root mean square of successive differences was higher in Group 1 for the 2-G plateau and for the entire test. DISCUSSION: The results suggest that HRV is positively correlated with +Gz-tolerance and can be used as an additional selection tool for military aircrew. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]