Prof. Dr. Werner Schneider

Research focus: Attentional control of visual perception, memory and sensori-motor actions

Central issues

• Selection-for-perception (covert visual attention) and selection-for-saccadic eye movements (where-to-look-next)
• Attention, eye movements and visual-spatial working memory
• Attentional control, skill learning and long-term memory
• Task-based competition for attentional resources over time: The "attentional blink" et al.

Theoretical frameworks

• "Perception-for-action" (A. Allport, O. Neumann, W. Prinz)
• The "Visual Attention Model" (VAM, W.X. Schneider)
• The "(Neural) Theory of Visual Attention" (TVA, C. Bundesen)
• The "Natural Task Approach" (D. Ballard, M. Hayhoe, M. Land, B. Tatler)

Methods

• Experimental studies with normal subjects and patients
• Computational modeling and its application to artificial intelligent systems (e.g., attention-based control of fast shifting mobile visual sensors in robots)

Selected publications:

Förster RM, Carbone E, Koesling H and Schneider WX. (2012) Saccadic eye movements in the dark while performing an automatized sequential high-speed sensorimotor task. Journal of Vision 12 (2):8, 1-15.

Finke K, Matthias E, Keller I, Muller HJ, Schneider WX and Bublak P. (2012) How does phasic alerting improve performance in patients with unilateral neglect? A systematic analysis of attentional processing capacity and spatial weighting mechanisms. Neuropsychologia 50: 1178-1189.

Förster RM, Carbone E, Koesling H and Schneider WX. (2011) Saccadic eye movements in a high-speed bimanual stacking task: Changes of attentional control during learning and automatization. Journal of Vision 11(7): 1-16.

Finke K,Schwarzkopf W, Muller U,Frodl T,Muller HJ,Schneider WX, Engel R,Riedel M,Moller HJ and Hennig-Fast K. (2011) Disentangling the Adult Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Endophenotype: Parametric Measurement of Attention. Journal of Abnormal Psychology 120(4): 890-901.

Stenneken P, Egetemeir J, Schulte-Körne G, Müller HJ, Schneider WX and Finke K. (2011) Slow perceptual processing at the core of developmental dyslexia: A parameter-based assessment of visual attention. Neuropsychologia 49: 3454-3465.