2022 Fiscal Year Research-status Report
Is active perception better than passive perception? Examining the role of action in perception through a systematic literature review and comprehensive behavioral experiments
| Project/Area Number |
22K18163
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| Research Institution | Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University |
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Principal Investigator |
SANGATI Ekaterina 沖縄科学技術大学院大学, 身体性認知科学ユニット, ポストドクトラルスカラー (70898246)
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| Project Period (FY) |
2022-04-01 – 2024-03-31
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| Keywords | active perception / agency / sensory substitution |
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| Outline of Annual Research Achievements |
Research on active and passive perception in the past year proceeded along several directions.
First, we continued the development of research equipment involved in the project. Our first behavioral experiment (described below) highlighted the gaps in implementation that could hinder further progress. Accordingly, we measured and minimized all possible delays between the components of our experimental system such that data can be acquired continuously from movement, haptic output and physiology and synchronized via event triggers.
Second, we have completed one behavioral study. Participants explored two-dimensional objects using our experimental apparatus and reported their object size estimates. We manipulated 1) their control over exploratory movements as being either Active (control present) or Passive (control absent) and 2) their knowledge of the task goals, being either Specific (task-focused) or Generic (exploratory). We found no difference between the Active and Passive conditions but significantly higher perceptual accuracy in Specific Intention trials compared to Generic Intention ones. The output of this work has been accepted for oral presentation and publication in the CogSci 2023 conference.
Third, we started designing and piloting a new experiment on shape recognition in a similar setup.
Finally, we have nearly completed a full text review of articles that were preliminarily selected for the systematic review part of the project.
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| Current Status of Research Progress |
Current Status of Research Progress
3: Progress in research has been slightly delayed.
Reason
The research plan submitted at the outset of the project assumed that the first part to be completed is the systematic literature review of the main project topic (active and passive perception). However, this turned out to be more challenging than anticipated because it requires input from freelancers who are highly skilled and possess a domain expertise. More specifically, every article examined for inclusion in the systematic review requires that at least 2 experts make a decision and, ideally, a third person resolves emerging conflicts. It has been challenging to find appropriate freelancers for this part of the project.
With respect to the human subject research part of the project, we collected and analyzed data for one behavioral experiment. It became apparent that although the system has been setup to record multiple data streams that can be aligned post-hoc, this alignment requires a lot of additional effort and will hinder smooth progress in future experiments. For this reason, it has been decided to perform a more detailed technical analysis of the hardware and software involved. We have documented all the system components and possible delays between them. We have also consulted with an external software development company in how to best address emerging issues. Several experimental implementations have been redesigned and we confirmed that the current setup is optimized with respect to temporal synchronization. Overall, significant progress has been made on this front but it caused a delay in setting up new behavioral experiments.
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| Strategy for Future Research Activity |
In the new fiscal year, we will continue our efforts on all lines of work established so far.
Regarding the experimental system development, we plan to document synchronization achieved between the sensory substitution device, robotic platform and physiological recording. There has been few attempts to provide scientific community with a setup of this type and it can lead to significant advances in understanding sensory substitution and perception more generally. We plan to publish the output of this work as a technical paper.
Second, we will conduct a new behavioral experiment that involves a more minimal design. Participants will explore objects using a one-dimensional horizontal movement and will be asked to identify linear shapes, which consist in an alternation of opaque and transparent parts that produce a corresponding alternation between presence and absence of vibration as they are being explored. This sensation can be used to identify the particular configuration of the gaps in the object and distinguish it from alternative shapes. We will record data composed of synchronized motor and perceptual (haptic) information which will allow us to investigate not just perceptual accuracy across active and passive conditions, but also particular behavioral strategies adopted by different participants.
Finally, we will continue our work on the systematic review but will also consider adjusting the scope of this part of the project. If freelancers cannot be recruited for some of the review process, we will instead write a more minimal literature review on the topic.
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| Causes of Carryover |
There were several differences with respect to the proposed project budget. The planned personnel expenditure was less than expected because of difficulties with finding freelance collaborators to work on the systematic review part of the project. In the proposal, the majority of the expense was dedicated to this cost type but in practice only a small amount was spent. On the other hand, the proposed budget did not include significant goods or equipment related costs. However, the robot used for behavioral experiments experienced a malfunction, which required hardware repairs from the manufacturer and incurred unexpected costs. Moreover, the data synchronization issues described in the progress report resulted in the purchase of new hardware components, which also resulted in higher costs than predicted.
Overall, both lower than expected expenditure in the Salary cost category and higher in Others and Goods category resulted in a small mismatch between the budget requested for the previous FY and actual amount spent, with some funds to be carried over to the new FY. These funds will be used for addressing remaining equipment issues, conference travel, and potential personnel costs.
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Research Products
(1 results)
