Research by the Vision Foundation found that how we perceive an image depends on where we are. Professor Matteo Carandini, together with scientists from University College London, created a virtual environment in which there were two visually identical rooms in two different positions. These rooms were used to study the visual and navigation systems of mice. The work was published in Nature on September 11, 2018.
Scientists expected to see visual neurons react the same in response to two visually identical rooms. But the results showed that one image can be seen differently depending on the physical position. It turned out that visual neurons reacted more strongly in one room, but not in another.
What do you see?
Vision plays an important role in navigation. Previously, it was thought that the brain has two separate systems that work independently: one for navigation and one for vision. The new results instead demonstrate that the visual system is strongly influenced by the navigation system.
This discovery provides us with a better understanding of how these systems interact, allowing the brain to process navigational information. Studying how the eye and brain work together will enable us to better cope with vision problems in the future.
Ilya Khel