Examining the biomarkers of visual crowding in visual impairments

Update Nov. 2024

The project is supervised by Frans Cornelissen and Nomdo Jansonius and located in the Laboratory of Experimental Ophthalmology of the University Medical Center Groningen. The current project aims to examine the biomarkers of visual crowding and object recognition and come up with natural tasks to assess these visual phenomena using eye movements.

Personal Background and Interest:

I am from Istanbul, Turkey. I received my BA in Psychology from Yeditepe University and an MA in Psychological Sciences from Bogazici University. For my master's thesis, I investigated the effects of motion and smooth pursuit eye movements on the visibility of chromatic stimuli using eye tracking and psychophysical methods. My research interests include spatial and functional vision, visual crowding, eye movements, and the interaction between vision and action. Currently, I am pursuing my PhD in Behavioral and Cognitive Neuroscience at the University of Groningen as part of the Marie Skłodowska-Curie ITN OptiVisT program.

My personal interests include playing the piano, drawing and reading. 

Aim of the project: 

Visual crowding is the inability to distinguish an object in the presence of clutter and is increased in several neurological and ophthalmic disorders. 

My project in OptiVisT aims to:

1. Advance our understanding of visual crowding and its interaction with external factors, such as luminance, in glaucoma and healthy vision.
2. Develop novel tools to assess visual crowding and functional vision deficits.
3. Improve early detection and intervention strategies by refining assessment methods, ultimately enhancing the quality of life for individuals with glaucoma.

Current activities:

To date I have: 

• Developed a novel rapid assessment tool for measuring crowding using eye movements in healthy controls.
• Assessed crowding in pre-perimetric glaucoma and evaluated the feasibility of the novel eye movement-based crowding tool in this patient group.
• Examined the interaction between luminance and crowding in healthy vision.
• Developed a continuous psychophysical crowding paradigm and assessed its feasibility compared to traditional crowding paradigms in healthy vision.

I completed my secondments at the Otto von Guericke University Magdeburg and Johnson & Johnson Vision Groningen. At Magdeburg, I worked with glaucoma patients and developed my understanding of clinical measures used in glaucoma diagnosis. At Johnson & Johnson, I gained valuable insight into how academic research can translate into real-world applications, and it helped me see the potential impact of my work beyond the lab.

Future directions:

I am hoping to continue doing research after OptiVisT, further diversifying my skills in vision research and ophthalmology. I am particularly interested in exploring the complexities of visual processing and contributing to advancements in understanding eye diseases like glaucoma. Additionally, I want to continue broadening my scientific network, building on the connections I have made during OptiVisT, and fostering collaborations that will enable impactful research. My goal is to keep expanding my expertise while contributing meaningfully to the field of vision science.

My OptiVisT experience:

My experience with the OptiVisT program has been transformative, both scientifically and personally. Scientifically, it allowed me to delve deeply into my research on visual crowding and glaucoma, providing me with an environment that fostered growth and exploration. Through OptiVisT, I had the opportunity to connect with scientists from across Europe and around the world, which broadened my perspectives and helped build valuable collaborations.

The workshops offered during OptiVisT were incredibly enriching—they not only improved my technical expertise but also developed my soft skills, such as communication, teamwork, and problem-solving. These skills are highly transferable, both within and beyond academia.

Above all, the connections I made during my time in OptiVisT have laid the foundation for a supportive professional network. I believe these relationships will continue to support me throughout my scientific career and beyond, offering guidance and inspiration in future endeavors.