Brian Wandell
Encyclopedia
Brian A. Wandell is the Isaac and Madeline Stein Family Professor at Stanford University
, where he was a former Chair of the Psychology
Department.
His work in visual neuroscience
uses both functional MRI and computational modeling to understand the action of the visual portions of the brain
. His laboratory has worked to develop methods for identifying and measuring visual field maps
in visual cortex. Recently, he and members of the laboratory have measured the reorganization of maps and cortical function following brain injury.
The Wandell lab is also studying human brain development. Specifically, they are measuring the responses in visual cortex of children, aged 8–12, as the children become skilled readers. He and his group are hoping to understand how visual signals and structures must develop to permit rapid, skilled reading. This work includes an array of techniques, including (functional MRI), diffusion tensor imaging (DTI
), anatomical imaging, and behavioral testing.
Wandell authored the vision science textbook Foundations of Vision. Wandell has won various academic honors, and he was elected to the National Academy of Sciences
in 2003.
Along with Laurence Maloney, he was awarded the National Academy of Sciences' Troland Research Award
in 1987 "For their elegant account of how we preserve the inherent colors of surfaces despite wide variations in illumination, and of Wandell's other fundamental investigations of color vision." In 2008, he received the Edgar D. Tillyer Award from the OSA
.
Stanford University
The Leland Stanford Junior University, commonly referred to as Stanford University or Stanford, is a private research university on an campus located near Palo Alto, California. It is situated in the northwestern Santa Clara Valley on the San Francisco Peninsula, approximately northwest of San...
, where he was a former Chair of the Psychology
Psychology
Psychology is the study of the mind and behavior. Its immediate goal is to understand individuals and groups by both establishing general principles and researching specific cases. For many, the ultimate goal of psychology is to benefit society...
Department.
His work in visual neuroscience
Neuroscience
Neuroscience is the scientific study of the nervous system. Traditionally, neuroscience has been seen as a branch of biology. However, it is currently an interdisciplinary science that collaborates with other fields such as chemistry, computer science, engineering, linguistics, mathematics,...
uses both functional MRI and computational modeling to understand the action of the visual portions of the brain
Brain
The brain is the center of the nervous system in all vertebrate and most invertebrate animals—only a few primitive invertebrates such as sponges, jellyfish, sea squirts and starfishes do not have one. It is located in the head, usually close to primary sensory apparatus such as vision, hearing,...
. His laboratory has worked to develop methods for identifying and measuring visual field maps
Retinotopy
Retinotopy describes the spatial organization of the neuronal responses to visual stimuli. In many locations within the brain, adjacent neurons have receptive fields that include slightly different, but overlapping portions of the visual field. The position of the center of these receptive fields...
in visual cortex. Recently, he and members of the laboratory have measured the reorganization of maps and cortical function following brain injury.
The Wandell lab is also studying human brain development. Specifically, they are measuring the responses in visual cortex of children, aged 8–12, as the children become skilled readers. He and his group are hoping to understand how visual signals and structures must develop to permit rapid, skilled reading. This work includes an array of techniques, including (functional MRI), diffusion tensor imaging (DTI
Diffusion MRI
Diffusion MRI is a magnetic resonance imaging method that produces in vivo images of biological tissues weighted with the local microstructural characteristics of water diffusion, which is capable of showing connections between brain regions...
), anatomical imaging, and behavioral testing.
Wandell authored the vision science textbook Foundations of Vision. Wandell has won various academic honors, and he was elected to the National Academy of Sciences
United States National Academy of Sciences
The National Academy of Sciences is a corporation in the United States whose members serve pro bono as "advisers to the nation on science, engineering, and medicine." As a national academy, new members of the organization are elected annually by current members, based on their distinguished and...
in 2003.
Along with Laurence Maloney, he was awarded the National Academy of Sciences' Troland Research Award
Troland Research Awards
The Troland Research Awards are an annual prize given by the United States National Academy of Sciences to two researchers under the age of 40 in recognition of psychological research on the relationship between consciousness and the physical world....
in 1987 "For their elegant account of how we preserve the inherent colors of surfaces despite wide variations in illumination, and of Wandell's other fundamental investigations of color vision." In 2008, he received the Edgar D. Tillyer Award from the OSA
Optical Society of America
The Optical Society is a scientific society dedicated to advancing the study of light—optics and photonics—in theory and application, by means of publishing, organizing conferences and exhibitions, partnership with industry, and education. The organization has members in more than 100 countries...
.