Overview

Our lab has developed in two stages. From 1965 until about 1990 Mike Land worked on a variety of aspects of animal vision, from optics to behaviour. Since 1990 this has continued, but the development here of a light-weight eye tracker has made possible a series of studies of the way people use their eyes when performing everyday tasks. We are beginning to understand the basic "natural history" of eye movements in a way that has not been possible before. We find that there are many common themes that link the visual mechanisms of animals and men, at all levels, and it is this comparative approach that has given our work its particular blend of ideas and, we believe, insight.

We are currently working on a number of distinct research projects covering invertebrate optics, behavioural studies of eye movements during a wide range of natural tasks, and the psychology of vision and visual perception. To find out more about our current areas of research click on the link at the top of the page, or alternatively click here.

 Latest news

The new book "Animal Eyes" written by Mike Land (Sussex Vision Group) and Dan-Eric Nilsson.

 

Synopsis

"Animal Eyes" aims to provide a comprehensive account of all known types of eye. It takes the diversity of optical mechanisms as a framework, but many other aspects of the structure and function of eyes are examined. Visual ecology, for example, the way that eyes are specifically adapted to the lifestyles of the animals that bear them, is another important theme. The "design philosophy" of eyes is explored, too: what are the physical constraints on the way that an eye performs its functions, and how are these addressed by the different types of eye? Early and closing chapters look at the properties of light critical to vision, and factors in eye adaptation like spatial resolution, sensitivity, and movement, while the central sections assess the capabilities of a wide variety of eye types. The book is not aimed at any one readership. It may be of value to undergraduates in Biology and Neuroscience programmes, and to anyone engaged in the study of vision at post-graduate level.

 

This page is maintained by Ben Tatler (b.w.tatler@sussex.ac.uk)

Last updated 26 July 2004