We conceptualize and learn complex landscapes in large part through “route-based” mapping, the memory of sensory experiences and landmarks discovered during spatial exploration. Immersive or “frameless” visualization environments such as dome projection or head-mounted display provide viewers with a route-based learning experience because they induce the feeling of physically moving through virtual environments, an effect that arises from a mismatch between visual and vestibular sensory cues. This effect has been leveraged in educational settings for conveying complex spatial concepts, particularly for teaching astronomy. However, despite the ubiquity of digital dome technology and its documented educational merit, its utility in depicting biological landscapes has remained largely unexplored. In this presentation, I describe some of our work applying these concepts to real, three-dimensional neuroimaging data and the impact on audiences in informal science education settings. We find that in addition to learning about two-dimensional landscapes, real-time, exploratory touring is also effective for teaching complex, three-dimensional anatomical structures at scales that vary by up to four orders of magnitude.


Wednesday, July 20, 2016, 12:00. Blue Lecture Room

Hosted by Prof. Turgut Durduran