Doctoral Dissertation Research: Neurological Studies in Tactile Map Use and Training by Persons Who Are Blind or Visually Impaired

博士论文研究：盲人或视障人士触觉地图使用和训练的神经学研究

• 批准号: 0802898
• 负责人: Amy Lobben
• 金额: $ 1.2万
• 依托单位: University of Oregon Eugene
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2008
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2008-06-15 至 2010-11-30
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=0802898&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Doctoral; Dissertation; Research; Neurological; Studies

This project investigates the relationship between spatial abilities, map use tasks, and training-based performance effects by persons who are blind or visually impaired. Because the study is theoretically grounded in the areas of spatial cognition, tactile mapping and use, and functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI), the results will identify both the behavioral-based and the biological-based impacts resulting from systematic tactile map use and spatial thinking training. In addition, previous research has identified the neural patterns associated with spatial ability and map use task performance in sighted population, which will allow analysis of the similarities and differences between sighted and blind subject groups in the performance of similar tasks. The experimental design, itself, reveals a novel methodological approach in behavioral geography and cartographic research. Past research has focused on tactile map use from psychophysical-based, cognition and performance-based, training-based, and neural-based approaches. However, these diverse methods have not yet been integrated. This research is based on the assertion that a mixed methodological approach will provide a more holistic measure, not only of spatial and map use tasks, but also on the effects of training. The proposed research will have broader impacts by creating an infrastructure for research on orientation and mobility training. The project will create and provide a new training tool in the form of a tactile map reading protocol, which will be evaluated by faculty at the Oregon School for the Blind, and be provided to the public free of charge. The project brings together a research team of teachers, orientation and mobility specialists, students and researchers to develop a curriculum-enhancing tool through an empirical study. This model of a collaborative team of researchers and educators will enhance the building of the tactile map reading protocol proposed for the blind and visually impaired. From an intellectual standpoint, the project integrates concepts, theories, and experiment design approaches from three fields: behavioral geography, cartography, and fMRI. Not only will the results enhance the literature in each of these areas, but they will also provide one of the first integrations of these fields. In doing so, the experimental design will provide a model to integrate methods and illustrate a truly cross-disciplinary methodological approach.

该项目调查了空间能力，地图使用任务以及盲目或视力障碍者基于培训的绩效效果之间的关系。 因为从理论上讲，该研究基于空间认知，触觉映射和使用以及功能性磁共振成像（fMRI）的领域，因此结果将确定基于行为的基于行为的和基于生物学的影响，以及由系统触觉图和空间造成的生物学影响思考培训。 此外，以前的研究已经确定了与空间能力相关的神经模式，并在视力人群中使用了任务绩效，这将允许分析相似任务的视力和盲目学科组之间的相似性和差异。 实验设计本身揭示了行为地理和制图研究中一种新颖的方法论方法。 过去的研究集中在触觉地图上的使用中，从基于心理物理，认知和基于绩效的基于培训和基于神经的方法。 但是，这些不同的方法尚未集成。 这项研究基于这样的断言，即一种混合的方法论方法将提供更全面的衡量标准，不仅是空间和地图使用任务，而且还提供了训练的影响。 拟议的研究将通过创建用于方向和移动培训的研究基础设施来产生更广泛的影响。该项目将以触觉地图阅读协议的形式创建并提供新的培训工具，该工具将由俄勒冈州盲人学校的教师评估，并免费提供给公众。 该项目汇集了一个由教师，培养和流动性专家，学生和研究人员组成的研究团队，以通过实证研究开发一种课程增强工具。 这个由研究人员和教育工作者组成的合作团队的模型将增强针对盲人和视力障碍的触觉地图阅读协议的构建。 从智力的角度来看，该项目将概念，理论和实验设计方法整合在三个领域：行为地理，制图和fMRI。 结果不仅会增强这些领域的文献，而且还将提供这些领域的第一个整合之一。 在此过程中，实验设计将提供一个模型来整合方法并说明一种真正的跨学科方法论方法。