Spared cognitive processing of visual oddballs despite delayed visual evoked potentials in patient with partial recovery of vision after 53years of blindness

AbstractWe examined the visual and cognitive functions of a 72-year-old subject, KP, who recovered his sight after 53years of visual deprivation. We used visual evoked potentials (VEPs) to pattern-reversal and motion-onset stimuli and cognitive responses (ERPs) during the oddball paradigm to assess the effect of long-term deprivation on a mature visual system. KP lost his sight at the age of 17years, and light projection onto his right retina was restored at 71years by a corneal implant. Nine months after sight recovery we recorded reproducible responses to all examined stimuli. The response to pattern reversal contained two P100-like peaks with the later peak being dominant and significantly delayed (260ms) when compared to the P100s of two control subjects, to whom the stimuli were adjusted in size and contrast to mimic KP’s vision. KP’s motion-onset VEPs to full-field and peripheral stimuli had a characteristic shape with a well-defined N2 peak; however, both peaks were significantly delayed (262 and 272ms) compared to control responses. Unlike the P100 and N2 peaks, which represent sensory detection, the P3b/P300 component of the ERP to a target event in the oddball paradigm was not further delayed. In spite of degraded vision and sensory deprivation lasting 53years, KP displayed reproducible responses to all reported stimuli. Long-term visual deprivation and retinal detachment degraded KP’s visual sensory processing, assessed by pattern-reversal and motion-onset VEPs, whereas the cognitive processing of appropriate visual stimuli was not compromised

We see what we need to see

In order to meet the requirements of the real-life situations, human perception need to be neither accurate nor detailed. Much more important for the active, exploring observer is instantaneous providing the relevant data that can better serve to the behavior. Not only the observer cannot perceive the complete scene, in fact he do not perceive much more than is relevant for his aim. In order to gain the relevant information from the visual field, the scene as well as the objects within are mentally adjusted, refined, some information are accentuated another suppressed. The principle role of human perception is to provide the information usable for visually guided action, not to be perfectly accurate and detailed reflection of the reality. In this context, the human visual system might be the inspiration for the creators of machine vision systems

Space in photography and image

Space perception in pictures or photos is different from space perception of real scenes. The differences are significant but obviously unsuspected. The space perception in pictures and photos is allowed by our experience with many realistic pictures and photos. The effect of relations between picture maker (camera) and observer are important. For example complexity is conducive to uncertainty to estimate egocentric distances in the picture. The space perception is modified by properties of picture (e.g. picture size) or observer’s position

Může být citlivost ke zrakovým klamům ovlivněna dlouhodobým pobytem v uzavřeném prostředí?

In the paper, we consider the influence of long-term isolation stay on visual space perception. Six crewmembers of the ground-based experiment simulating manned flight to Mars was closed for three and half months to the facility restricting view to no more than a few meters distances. We expect that such restriction would impair the observer’s ability to utilize information from perspective, which among others will manifest itself in the observer’s changed susceptibility to geometrical illusions. By the time of KUZ IX conference, the data from all sessions are still not available

The dialog between the observer and the environment

The presented article is bounded with the previous one. Numerous examples of the distorted perception of artificial (architectural) and natural scenes are presented and explained in the context of knowledges about human space perception

Creating pressure training environment for elite tennis players

Pressure training has emerged as a novel approach to prepare athletes for the demands of high-pressure situations, fostering their ability to adapt and perform optimally. This study aimed to investigate the utilization and effectiveness of pressure training among professional tennis players through interviews conducted with coaches at a professional tennis academy in southern Europe. By examining the methods employed by these coaches, this research sought to shed light on the multifaceted application of pressure training, encompassing mental, tactical, and physical dimensions of athlete readiness for competition. The study employed a qualitative research design, utilizing in-depth interviews to gather comprehensive insights from experienced coaches at the professional tennis academy in southern Europe. The interviews were conducted using a semi-structured format, allowing for a rich exploration of the coaches' perspectives, strategies, and experiences with pressure training. Findings from the study revealed that pressure training is an integral component of the coaching approach employed at the academy. Results showed five major themes – Perception of pressure, Stakes in Training, Benefits of Pressure, Negatives of Pressure and Coach and Player relationships. Coaches utilized a diverse range of strategies to expose players to pressure and create a controlled environment for them to develop essential mental skills. These strategies encompassed both simulated high-pressure scenarios and real-life competition experiences, effectively enabling players to enhance their decision-making abilities, emotional regulation, focus, and resilience. The outcomes of this study underscore the efficacy of pressure training as a means of enhancing performance and developing mental skills among competitive athletes. The findings demonstrate that pressure training, when implemented in a controlled environment and under the guidance of experienced coaches, can serve as a powerful tool for athletes to attain greater success in their respective sports. This research provides valuable insights into the practical implementation and benefits of pressure training at the academy. By leveraging pressure as a training stimulus, coaches effectively equip athletes with the mental fortitude, tactical acumen, and physical resilience required to thrive in high-pressure situations. The study's outcomes contribute to the growing body of knowledge surrounding sports psychology and training methodologies, offering a foundation for future research and practical applications in the field of athletic development

PROFILE OF THE POTENTIAL USER OF URBAN AIR MOBILITY IN THE CZECH REPUBLIC

Městská letecká mobilita (UAM) je nově vznikající koncept letecké dopravy, ve kterém drony přepravují cestující nebo náklad v hustě obydlených oblastech. UAM umožňuje výrazné zkrácení cestovních časů a obchází dopravní zácpy tím, že umožňuje leteckou dopravu z jednoho místa na druhé v rámci urbanizovaných oblastí. Než však bude možné UAM implementovat, je třeba vyřešit několik problémů, včetně technických problémů. Společenská akceptace a vytvoření životaschopného obchodního modelu jsou také pro rozvoj UAM důležité. Průzkum popsaný v tomto příspěvku má za cíl identifikovat profil potenciálního uživatele UAM. Výsledky naznačují poměrně vysokou ochotu přijmout UAM, přičemž přibližně 77 % respondentů projevilo zájem, zejména pokud by cesta UAM začala z jejich rezidenční oblasti. Logistická regresní analýza odhalila, že pohlaví, vzdělání, zaměstnanecký status, vzorce používání vozidel, frekvence cestování letadlem a motivační faktory, jako je využití cestovního času a rychlost cestování, významně ovlivnily pravděpodobnost použití UAM. Tato zjištění přispívají k pochopení potenciálního uživatelského profilu UAM.Urban air mobility (UAM) is an emerging air transport concept in which drones transport passengers or cargo in densely populated areas. UAM enables significant reductions in travel times and bypasses traffic congestion by enabling air travel from one place to another within urbanized areas. However, before UAM can be implemented, several issues need to be resolved, including technical issues. Social acceptance and the creation of a viable business model are also important for the development of UAM. The survey described in this post aims to identify the profile of a potential UAM user. The results indicate a relatively high willingness to adopt UAM, with approximately 77% of respondents expressing interest, especially if the UAM journey would start from their area of residence. Logistic regression analysis revealed that gender, education, employment status, vehicle use patterns, air travel frequency, and motivational factors such as travel time use and travel speed significantly influenced the likelihood of UAM use. These findings contribute to the understanding of the potential user profile of UAM

Issues in the research of visual space perception: The geometry of visual space, relationship between the spatial descriptors, and the metric vs. ordinal data

In the article, the authors summarize the main results of their research activity in the field of visual space perception. In the particular experimental projects, they focused on the relationship between the partial spatial descriptors in the process of forming the complex three-dimensional percept. Also, the geometry of the optical space was dealt in with respect to the Euclidean geometry of the physical space. The principle finding concerns the notion of anisotropic curvature of visual space. Finally, the question of plausibility of experiments requiring the perceptual judgements as expressed in metrical units (Euclidean tasks) was raised. The reason for this approach being used is to gather data directly comparable with the physical properties of space. On the other hand, in Euclidean tasks, the ecological validity of knowledge gained is inevitably limited and the danger of intrusion of nonperceptual factors is pervasive

PREFERENCES OF URBAN PUBLIC TRANSPORT USERS

Tento text předkládá výsledky průzkumu uživatelů městské hromadné dopravy v České republice, který se zaměřoval na hodnocení důležitosti vlastností zastávkových stanovišť městské veřejné dopravy a na důležitost různých charakteristik jízdy MHD. Obecně patří mezi nejvýše hodnocené položky ty, které se týkají čistoty, pohodlí a bezpečí. To platí jak pro zastávková stanoviště, tak i pro jízdu MHD. Tyto vlastnosti jsou důležitější pro respondenty s rostoucím věkem a vzděláním. Dále jsou mezi důležitými vlastnostmi také ty, které přispívají k efektivitě využívání MHD (spolehlivost dopravy, informovanost cestujících a možnost volby mezi spoji). Například informační tabule s aktuálními odjezdy jsou důležitější především pro starší dospělé, seniory a studenty, studenti navíc ocení také mobilní aplikaci s těmito údaji. Položky v obou inventářích a především ty, které jsou hodnoceny obecně nejvýše, nejsou tolik důležité pro respondenty, kteří MHD používají často. Pro tyto cestující je důležitá především efektivita městské hromadné dopravy, tedy celkový čas cestování. Mezi položkami, které jsou celkově hodnoceny jako méně důležité figurují položky, které se týkají bezbariérového přístupu na zastávku nebo do vozidla MHD. Tyto vlastnosti jsou však podstatně důležitější pro specifické skupiny respondentů, kterými jsou senioři, respondenti s malými dětmi a nepracující důchodci.This article presents the results of a survey of urban public transport users in the Czech Republic, which focused on evaluating the characteristics of urban PT stops and the importance of various attributes of public transport travel. In general, the highest rated items are those related to cleanliness, comfort and safety. This applies both to stops and vehicles. These attributes are more important for respondents of increasing age and education. Furthermore, among the essential types are those that contribute to the efficiency of public transport (reliability of transportation, information for passengers and the possibility of choosing between connections). While, for example, information boards with current departures are more important, especially for older adults, seniors and students, students will appreciate a mobile application with this information more. The items in both inventories, especially those rated generally the highest, are not so important for respondents who use public transport frequently. For these passengers, the efficiency of public transport, i.e. the total travel time, is essential. Among the items rated generally as less important are related to barrier-free access to a bus stop or a public transport vehicle. However, these attributes are significantly more important for specific groups of respondents: the elderly, respondents with small children and non-working pensioners