Identifying and enhancing superior searching abilities

Psychological visual perception research has primarily focused on how the visual system determines what information is perceived and how one's environment constrains perception. However, two equally important issues have gone relatively less studied. First, are there certain individuals who are predisposed to excel at certain tasks and abilities? Given the natural variety of interests, abilities, and predilections, it is worthwhile to explore and define which individuals may excel at a given perceptual skill where others might struggle. Second, can certain training regimens alter ones visual abilities? The two overarching goals of this broad project are a) to identify those individual who are naturally more capable at performing stressful visual searches, and b) to enhance such abilities.

Funding Sources:

Identifying and enhancing superior searching abilities. Army Research Office Award #54528LS

Training that addresses individual differences in sustained vigilance tasks. Institute of Homeland Security Solutions

Identifying predictive markers of individual difference in threat sensitivity. Institute of Homeland Security Solutions