Doctoral Dissertation Research: Neuroimaging Support for the Use of Audio to Represent Geospatial Location in Cartographic Design

博士论文研究：在制图设计中使用音频表示地理空间位置的神经影像支持

• 批准号: 1634086
• 负责人: Amy Lobben
• 金额: $ 1.58万
• 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: 2016
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2016-09-01 至 2018-02-28
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=1634086&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Doctoral; Dissertation; Research; Neuroimaging; Support

This doctoral dissertation research project will investigate how the temporal aspect of auditory map symbology affects the perception of general information available from a geospatial map. The project will enhance general understanding of how timing in the delivery of spatial information influences a listener's ability to make sense of that information, and it will contribute to cartographic theory that is outside of its traditional visual emphasis. Project results will assist in the design of audio-based cartographic displays, which will facilitate increased participation in discussion and analysis of geospatial information by a diverse population of map readers, including those who are blind or who have limited vision. As a Doctoral Dissertation Research Improvement award, this award also will provide support to enable a promising student to establish a strong independent research career.Geographic maps serve an important role in the communication of spatial information, and scientists have developed many techniques in map design that target the human visual system. However, an increasing awareness of the need to make maps accessible to people who are blind or who have limited vision as well as the growing size and complexity of digital data sets have prompted scientists to explore audio as an alternative to established cartographic techniques. Previous research has identified several areas of the brain that are associated with the processing of spatial information and other areas that are related to understanding the temporal sequence of events. In the conduct of this research project, the doctoral student will use functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to record brain activity in response to sequential and concurrent presentation of spatial information through audio while participants make judgements about the geospatial information that they hear. The fMRI data will quantify differences in the level of activity in the brain areas of interest. These data will address two research questions: (1) How does the temporal aspect of an auditory map display influence effectiveness in communicating general spatial patterns in the data? (2) How does neural activity in response to a geographic map that is presented through a serial auditory display contrast against that of a concurrent auditory display? The student will analyze the fMRI data to address these research questions, and she will make publicly available software that facilitates auditory display of geospatial information.

该博士学位论文研究项目将研究听觉图符号的时间方面如何影响地理空间图可获得的一般信息的感知。 该项目将增强对空间信息传递时间的定时如何影响听众理解该信息的能力的一般理解，并将有助于制图理论，而该理论超出了其传统的视觉强调。 项目结果将有助于设计基于音频的制图显示器，这将有助于增加参与地图读者的讨论和分析地理空间信息，包括盲人或视力有限的人。 作为博士学位论文研究改进奖，该奖项还将提供支持，使有前途的学生能够建立强大的独立研究职业。地理地理地理地图在空间信息的交流中发挥了重要作用，科学家在地图设计中开发了许多技术针对人类视觉系统。 但是，越来越多的意识到使盲人或视力有限的人以及数字数据集的规模和复杂性不断增长的人可以访问地图，这促使科学家探索音频作为既定制图技术的替代方案。 先前的研究已经确定了大脑的几个领域，这些区域与与理解事件的时间顺序相关的空间信息和其他领域的处理相关。 在该研究项目的进行中，博士生将使用功能磁共振成像（fMRI）来记录大脑活动，以响应顺序和并发通过音频呈现空间信息，而参与者对他们听到的地理空间信息进行判断。 fMRI数据将量化感兴趣的大脑区域活动水平的差异。 这些数据将解决两个研究问题：（1）听觉图的时间方面如何显示在传达数据中通用空间模式方面的有效性？ （2）如何响应通过串行听觉显示与并发听觉显示的串行听觉显示对比的地理图的响应？ 学生将分析fMRI数据以解决这些研究问题，她将制作公开可用的软件，以促进听觉显示地理空间信息。