Research

My biological research investigates how evolution, ecology, and behavioral demands have shaped visual systems. This involves comparative investigations of sensory physiology, visual signals, and locomotory behavior, taking into account all stages from the natural sensory “Umwelt” to optical and neuronal data acquisition and processing. My research also explores visual guidance laws controlling behavior, and investigates active vision strategies such as gaze movements. I have employed a wide array of techniques, from psychophysics over spectrophotometry and electrophysiology, to 'unrestrained' behavioral experiments coupled with high speed video analysis.

Co-evolution of vision and ornamentation. My current NSF-funded research focuses on the interaction between senders and receivers of visual signals. Specifically, in the way that infraspecific signals are tuned to the visual system of the receiver. Jumping spiders (Salticidae), are especially well suited as a model due to their high performance modular visual system, elaborate ornamentation and flamboyant courtship displays. 

I have co-developed new methods for efficient measurement of spectral sensitivity of arachnid eyes, in collaboration with the Cronin lab at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County. We found a new filter-based mechanism for trichromatic vision, recently published in Current Biology (2015). 

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Vision on the run. My NSF-funded work in Cole Gilbert’s lab at Cornell University examined the visual system of tiger beetles – extremely fast runners with excellent vision, which are highly susceptible to motion blur due to their high speed. This makes them an ideal system to study questions related to spatiotemporal resolution in real-life situations, as well as visuomotory guidance laws. 


So far, this work led to the discoveries of a novel method of collision prediction in systems where both predator and prey are moving (Biol Lett, 2014), and of how visual motion blur can be compensated for by antennal mechanosensation (Proc Roy Soc B, 2014).

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Motion detection and tracking in jumping spiders. My PhD research at Macquarie University focused on motion detection and tracking. I analyzed the motion tracking behavior and performance of these animals (J Comp Physiol A, 2012; J Exp Biol 2010) as well as the neurophysiology of their photoreceptors. I also revealed unexpected ‘hyperacute’ motion vision in their secondary eyes (Vision Res, 2012).