Please mark your calendars and register for our 2020 Larkworthy Memorial Lecture*. Originally planned as part of the Vision Science Research Seminar Series (VSRSS) in April, the lecture was postponed until September 29th, and will be held remotely. By registering, you will receive a link to join the event.
After the lecture please join us for the Graduate Awards Ceremony from 8:00pm – 8:30pm.
York Research Chair in Multisensory Integration
Professor of Psychology and director of the Centre for Vision Research, York University, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Title: Visual-vestibular interactions on earth and in space
Abstract:
The vestibular system with its sense organs in the inner ear comprises our sixth sense. This system, in collaboration with vision, helps keep us upright and is important in assisting navigation as we move around the world. But the vestibular system helps to keep us grounded in a more profound sense by contributing to our sense of self and to the perception of our own body schema. In this talk I will be discussing how we can measure these things and what happens when we disrupt the system, in the short term by electrical stimulation and in the longer term by manipulating and even taking away gravity.
Speaker biography:
Professor Laurence Harris obtained his PhD at Magdalene College, Cambridge. He did post-doctoral studies in Dalhousie (NS) and Durham (UK) before becoming professor of physiology at Cardiff University (Wales). He moved to York University in Canada in 1990 where he became a professor of psychology, cross appointed to the departments of Biology and Kinesiology. He is the director of the Centre for Vision Research at York and holds the York Research Chair in Multisensory Integration. He founded the international journal: "Multisensory Research". His research explores how the senses combine to generate our perception of our body and the world in which we move. He runs projects on the International Space Station and uses a variety of unique equipment for exploring the role of gravity in perception here on Earth.
* This event was made possible through a generous bequest from Dr. Donald Larkworthy, OD 1949. He spent his career practicing in Stratford, Ontario and was passionate about learning and the advancement of the optometric profession. Unfortunately this event has passed and registration is now closed.