Jocelyn Faubert

Jocelyn Faubert (born 1959) is a psychophysicist best known for his work in the fields of visual perception, vision of the elderly, and neuropsychology. Professor Faubert holds the NSERC-Essilor Industrial Research Chair in Visual Perception and Presbyopia.[1] He is the director of the Laboratory of Psychophysics and Visual Perception at the University of Montreal.[2] Professor Faubert has also been involved in the award-winning[3] transfer of research and developments from the laboratory into the commercial domain. He is a co-founder and member of the Board of Directors of CogniSens Inc.[4]

Jocelyn Faubert
Born1959
NationalityCanadian
Alma materPh.D. (1991) Concordia University
Known forNeurophysics, Visual Perception
Scientific career
FieldsPsychophysics, Neuroscience
InstitutionsUniversity of Montreal (professor), U of M Laboratory of Psychophysics and Visual Perception (director), NSERC (chair of industrial research on visual function)
Doctoral studentsSelma Greffou, Eva-Maria Hahl, Jean-Marie Hanssens, Isabelle Legault, Jean-Claude Piponnier

Dr. Faubert obtained his M.Sc. and Ph.D. from Concordia University in Montreal, Quebec. Faubert's early work was related to aging, vision, and glaucoma.[5][6] More recently, his work has focused on neuroplasticity as it relates to visual perception and cognitive performance.

Psychophysics and Visual Perception Laboratory

Dr. Faubert oversees the work of over ten masters and doctoral students as well as a team of researchers and post-doctoral fellows[7] in his multidisciplinary psychophysical and visual perception laboratory. He has been director for over 20 years. research areas include:

Over 130 Peer-reviewed articles[8] have resulted from the research conducted at the laboratory, as well as several patents. One of the stated aims of the University of Montreal's laboratory is to develop technologies for use in the society at large;[9] applying research resulting from investigations into aging and perceptual-cognitive performance to the commercial domain.

Technologies

The laboratory makes use of several suites of sophisticated technology to conduct its research:

  • EON Icube : A Multi-sided immersive environment in which participants are completely surrounded by virtual imagery and 3D sound.[10]
  • CAVE :The Cave Automatic Virtual Environment is an advanced display system of the size of a room. It combines stereoscopic projection and high-resolution 3D computer graphics to create the illusion of being present in a virtual environment.[11]
  • EEG: the recording of electrical activity along the scalp produced by the firing of neurons within the brain. EEG refers to the recording of the brain's spontaneous electrical activity over a short period of time as recorded from multiple electrodes placed on the scalp.
  • Driving Simulator: An immersive 180° field-of-view screen with simulated rear and side-view mirrors. Used extensively in research into the driving capacity of the elderly.

Laboratory research populations

The laboratory utilises its 3D technologies and diagnostic equipment to investigate perceptual cognitive issues in various populations: adults, the elderly,[12] children,[13] autistics[14] and those suffering from mild Traumatic Brain Injury (mTBI).[15]

Research programs

Using the immersive virtual reality technologies of the laboratory, Professor Faubert and his researchers are able to use custom-made programs in the CAVE, Icube and Driving Simulator to investigate areas of research interest. These include:

Scientific research

Aging and visual perception

In a number of studies, Dr. Faubert and colleagues were able to pinpoint the effect of normal aging on visual and perceptual functions. One important study demonstrated that it is not the physical tools of vision which are affected by aging. Rather, it is a loss of computational or processing ability of the brain that ultimately affects visual perception as people age.[16][17][18][19][20]

Development Disorders and Visual Perception

In a number of studies, Dr. Faubert and colleagues examined the impact of developmental disorders (autism, fragile x syndrome, etc.) on visual function. They were able to demonstrate that in the case of autism (unlike fragile x), patients' results are not pathway-specific, but rather are dependent on the complexity of the neural processing required to perceive the image. Over the course of their studies, Dr. Faubert and colleagues observed autism patients who could significantly outperform the general population at certain visual tasks, and patients who could significantly underperform the general population at the same tasks.[21][22]

Illusions

The laboratory engages in research concerning illusions in order to investigate perceptual function. For example, the peripheral drift illusion illustrates that temporal differences in luminance processing produce a signal that tricks the motion system.[23]

Mild perceptual impairment

Mild Perceptual Impairment (MPI) is a term that covers the deficits in complex perception that accompany reduced cognitive ability in the elderly, those affected by Autism, and also those individuals suffering from mild Traumatic Brain Injury (mTBI).[24] Professor Faubert's recent research has covered the detection of these deficits through detecting distinct "perceptual signatures" as well as through simulated optic flow in a virtual environment,[25] assessing postural reactivity to determine cognitive-perceptual levels.

Awards and honors

Dr. Faubert has received many accolades from the scientific community. He has seven distinct patents registered worldwide. He has acted as a referee for more than 17 peer-reviewed academic journals. He has been a guest lecturer over 20 times since 2004, including the Joe Brunei Award lecture in recognition for outstanding contributions in Ophthalmic Optics in 2009.

Patents

Dr. Faubert has been actively engaged in transferring technology from the academic world to the biomedical industry. This has led to seven distinct patents (3 delivered, 4 pending) all of which are licensed to spin-off companies.

Between 2007 and 2009, Dr. Faubert and colleagues patented a series of technologies designed to aid in the assessment and intervention of early neurobiological alterations (NBA) such as concussions, dementia, developmental disorders (e.g. autism, fragile x) etc.[26][27][28] In 2010, a spin-off company licensed these technologies with a variety of medical and athletic purposes.[4]

In 1999, Dr. Faubert, along with Vasile Diaconu, patented "On-line Spectroreflectometry Oxygenation Measurement in the Eye" (O.S.O.M.E). This development allows doctors to measure a patient's blood oxygen level non-invasively. The device instead is able to check the color of the retinal artery at the back of the eye and render a precise measurement in a matter of seconds.[29][30][31][32] This technology and 2 other related technologies are licensed to a spin-off company that is fabricating new generation retinal cameras for ophthalmologists and optometrists.

Technology transfer

Dr. Faubert and the Visual Perception and Psychophysics Laboratory have been involved in transferring laboratory developments into the commercial domain since 1999.[29] Several funding agencies have been involved in brokering this technology transfer. From the commercial domain, Essilor (an ophthalmic lens company) has partnered with the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC). Together, their aim has been to explore the connection between aging, visual perception, and posture. Dr. Faubert has been a chairholder at the NSERC since 2003, at which time his laboratory received a five-year grant (renewed in 2008).[1]

In a separate commercial venture, Dr. Faubert's Laboratory has partnered with Univalor (a technology transfer specialist), CogniSens Inc.[33] (a biomedical technology company) and Cognisens Athletics Inc.,[34] licensing four technologies related to visual perception and brain function. The aim of this partnership is to commercialize Dr. Faubert's research in the medical and team sports markets. Applications include concussion detection (NeuroMinder C3)[35] and perceptual-cognitive training (NeuroTracker).[4][36]

References
  1. "NSERC - Chairholder Profile". Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada. 2009-01-15. Retrieved 2011-01-25.
  2. "Visual Perception and Psychophysics Laboratory". University of Montreal School of Optometry. 2010. Archived from the original on 2012-03-19. Retrieved 2011-01-18.
  3. Lewis, Rob (2010-10-13). "Canada's Top 10 selected in Technology, Cleantech, and Life Sciences". TechVibes. Archived from the original on 2010-11-18. Retrieved 2011-01-25.
  4. "Corporate Information". CogniSens Inc. 2009. Archived from the original on 2010-10-29. Retrieved 2011-01-18.
  5. Faubert, Jocelyn (1986), "Temporal, spatial and chromatic mechanisms: their interrelationship in the glaucomatous eye", Concordia University, 4402, archived from the original on 2011-07-06
  6. Faubert, Jocelyn (1991), "Retino-geniculate pathways and the spatio-temporal properties of the human visual system in normal, aging, and glaucomatous vision", Concordia University, 4120, archived from the original on 2011-07-06
  7. "Membres". Visual Psychophysics and Perception Laboratory. University of Montreal. Archived from the original on 2011-07-06. Retrieved 2011-02-03.
  8. "Publications". Laboratoire de psychophysique et de perception visuelle, Université de Montréal. Archived from the original on 2011-07-06. Retrieved 2011-01-27.
  9. "Du laboratoire au marché" (in French). University of Montreal communications and public relations office. Archived from the original on 2010-11-23. Retrieved 2011-01-27.
  10. "Eon Icube". eonreality.com. Eon Reality. Retrieved 2011-01-26.
  11. "The CAVE: A Virtual Reality Theater". HPCCV Publications. HPCCV Publications. Retrieved 2011-01-26.
  12. Faubert, Jocelyn (2002). "Visual perception and aging". Canadian Journal of Experimental Psychology. 56 (3): 164–76. doi:10.1037/h0087394. PMID 12271747.
  13. Faubert, Jocelyn; A. Bertone; J. Hanck; K.M. Cornish (2008). "Development of static and dynamic perception for luminance-defined and texture-defined information" (PDF). NeuroReport. 19 (2): 225–228. doi:10.1097/wnr.0b013e3282f48401. PMID 18185113. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2011-07-06. Retrieved 2011-02-03.
  14. Faubert, Jocelyn; A. Bertone (2006). "Demonstrations of decreased sensitivity to complex motion information not enough to propose autism-specific neural etiology" (PDF). Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders. 36 (1): 55–64. doi:10.1007/s10803-005-0042-5. PMID 16374669. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2011-07-06. Retrieved 2011-02-03.
  15. Faubert, Jocelyn; O. Brosseau-Lachaine; R. Forget; O. Gagnon (2008). "Mild traumatic brain injury induces prolonged visual processing deficits in children" (PDF). Brain Injury. 22 (9): 657–68. doi:10.1080/02699050802203353. PMID 18698516. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2011-07-06. Retrieved 2011-02-03.
  16. Faubert, J; Legault, I; Allard, R (Dec 2007), "Normal aging and the perception of curvature shapes", Optometry and Vision Science, 84 (12): 1087–92, doi:10.1097/opx.0b013e31815b9e25, PMID 18091307
  17. Faubert, J; Laframboise, S; De Guise, D (Aug 2006), "Effect of aging on stereoscopic interocular correlation", Optometry and Vision Science, 83 (8): 589–93, doi:10.1097/01.opx.0000230267.19805.75, PMID 16909084
  18. Faubert, J; Habak, C (2000). "Larger effect of aging on the perception of higher-order stimuli" (PDF). Vision Research. 40 (8): 943–950. doi:10.1016/S0042-6989(99)00235-7. PMID 10720665. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2011-07-06. Retrieved 2011-01-27.
  19. Herbert, A; Overbury, O; Singh, J; Faubert, J (2002). "Aging and Bilateral Symmetry Detection" (PDF). Journal of Gerontology. 57B (3): 241–245. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2011-07-06. Retrieved 2011-01-27.
  20. Faubert, J (2002). "Visual Perception and Aging" (PDF). Canadian Journal of Experimental Psychology. 56 (3): 164–176. doi:10.1037/h0087394. PMID 12271747. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2011-07-06. Retrieved 2011-01-27.
  21. Faubert, J; Bertone, A; Mottron, L; Jelenic, P (Oct 2005), "Enhanced and diminished visuo-spatial information processing in autism depends on stimulus complexity", Brain, 128 (10): 2430–2441, doi:10.1093/brain/awh561, PMID 15958508
  22. Faubert, J; Cogan, C. S. (Nov 2004), "Integrative cortical dysfunction and pervasive motion perception deficit in fragile X syndrome", Neurology, 63 (9): 1634–1639, doi:10.1212/01.WNL.0000142987.44035.3B, PMID 15534248
  23. Faubert, Jocelyn; Andrew M Herbert (1999). "The peripheral drift illusion: A motion illusion in the visual periphery" (PDF). Perception. 28 (5): 617–21. doi:10.1068/p2825. PMID 10664757. Retrieved 2011-02-03.
  24. Faubert, Jocelyn; Brosseau-Lachaine, O.; Gagnon I.; Forget, R. (2008). "Mild traumatic brain injury induces prolonged visual processing deficits in children" (PDF). Brain Injury. 22 (9): 657–68. doi:10.1080/02699050802203353. PMID 18698516. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2011-07-06. Retrieved 2011-01-27.
  25. Faubert, Jocelyn; Jean-Marie Hanssens; Philippe Turpin-Lavallée; Roshan Soowamber (2010-08-13). "Visual control of posture as a function of age and cognitive task and its relationship with subjective discomfort". Journal of Vision. 10 (7): 1022. doi:10.1167/10.7.1022.
  26. PCT/CA2010/000439, Faubert, J & A Bertone, "Device and Method for Measuring Mild Perceptual Impairment", published 2010-09-23 Link
  27. CA WO/2010/037222, Faubert, J & D Tinjust, "Method and Device for Assessing, Training, and Improving Perceptual-cognitive Abilities of Individuals", published 2010-04-08 Link
  28. CA 12/446338, Faubert, J; R Doti & J Lugo-Arce, "Method and System for Improving a Subject's Sensory, Reflex and/or Motor Mechanisms via Auditory, Tactile or Visual Stimulations", published 2011-01-13 Link
  29. US 005919132A, Faubert, J & V Diaconu, "On-line and Real-time Spectroreflectometry Measurement of Oxygenation in a Patient's Eye", published 1998-03-26, issued 1999-07-06 Link Archived 2011-07-06 at the Wayback Machine
  30. WO/1999/048418, Faubert, J & V Diaconu, "Spectroreflectometric Measurement of Oxygenation in a Patient's Eye", published 1998-03-26, issued 1999-07-06 Link
  31. US 006149589A, Diaconu, V & J Faubert, "On-line and Real-time Spectroreflectometry Measurement of Oxygenation in a Patient's Eye", published 1999-03-22, issued 2000-11-21 Link Archived 2011-07-06 at the Wayback Machine
  32. US 006416481B2, Faubert, J & V Diaconu, "Flicker-induced interocular transfer-of-oxygenation for non-invasively assessing the neural integrity of a patient's central nervous system", published 2001-04-27, issued 2002-07-09 Link Archived 2011-07-06 at the Wayback Machine
  33. "Cognisens Inc". Archived from the original on 2011-01-12. Retrieved 2011-02-04.
  34. "Cognisens Athletics". Retrieved 2011-02-04.
  35. Hadekel, Peter (2010-12-22). "Start-up assesses Athlete Concussions". The Montreal Gazette. Retrieved 2011-02-03.
  36. "Licenses and Assignments". Univalor. 2010. Archived from the original on 2011-07-06. Retrieved 2011-02-03.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.