Staff List

Dean
Trevor Harley

Associate & Emeritus Staff

Alan Kennedy

Nick Wade

Richard Wilton

Dr. Benjamin Tatler

Reader

Lab page

Contact Details:
Telephone: (+44)(1382) 388260
Email: Benjamin Tatler

Postal Address:
School of Psychology
The University of Dundee
Dundee
DD1 4HN
Scotland, UK

Biography

My undergraduate degree was in Natural Sciences at Cambridge University. My dissertation was with Prof. Simon Laughlin and considered how the temporal responses of photoreceptors of the blowfly (Calliphora) change with eccentricity in the eye. I then went on to do a PhD with Prof Mike Land in Sussex looking at what information survives eye movements in real world settings. Following the PhD I spent a further 3 years as a postdoc working with Mike Land. This project looked at how object memories are extracted and retained across eye movements in real and laboratory settings. I joined Dundee as a lecturer in September 2004.

Research Grouping

Language, Cognition and Perception

Research Interests

I am interested in how we gather visual information from the world to aid perception and action. I have two main ways of approaching this issue. The first concerns the construction, nature and persistence of memory for objects across eye movements. I use a combination of computer based and real world experimental settings to investigate this and am collaborating principally with Mike Land (Sussex) and Iain Gilchrist (Bristol) on these issues. One particularly important issue is to investigate the dynamics of object memories: for example, what happens to our object memories as we progress through a task?

My second approach to studying how we gather visual information concerns the properties of images and scenes that we select to direct our eyes. In collaboration with Roland Baddeley and Ben Vincent (Bristol) I have developed powerful new approaches to study what determines where observers fixate in natural scenes. We have constructed a model that can predict the likelihood that any given location in an image would be fixated by a human observer. This model also allows us to assess the influence of high level cognitive factors (such as attention and expectation) on low level image feature selection.

I am also interested in the history of eye movement research and have recently published a book with Nick Wade (Dundee) on this topic.

Funding

Tatler, B. W. (2011-2012). £97,307. The time course of utilising high-level information in scene perception. ESRC.

Tatler, B. W. & Kennedy, R. A. (May 2009 – April 2012) £117,755. Remembering where: exploring why position memory is poor for dynamic movie sequences. The Leverhulme Trust (Ref: F/00 143/O)

Kennedy, R. A. & Tatler, B. W. (Oct 2007 – Sept 2008) £96,579.88. Eye movement control and moving images. ESRC (Ref: RES 000 22 2585)

Potter, D., Schloerscheidt, A., & Tatler, B. W. (April 2007 – Oct 2007) £111,794. Development of translational biomarkers of attention function. Wyeth Inc. & Scottish Enterprise.

Kennedy, R. A. & Tatler, B. W. (Sept 2006 – Aug 2007). £35,000. Eye movement control and information extraction while watching moving images. The Leverhulme Trust.

Tatler, B. W. (Sept 2005 – Aug 2006). £10,665. Object memory in a dynamic real world setting. The Royal Society.

Publications


Links	Publications
	Tatler, B. W., Hayhoe, M. M., Land, M. F., Ballard, D. A. (2011). Eye Guidance in Natural Vision: Moving on from the Salience Model. Journal of Vision, 11(5):5, 1–23.
	Tatler, B. W. & Land, M. F. (2011). Vision and the representation of the surroundings in spatial memory. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B, 366, 596-610.
	Kuhn, G. & Tatler, B. W. (2011). Misdirected by the gap. The relationship between inattentional blindness and attentional misdirection. Consciousness and Cognition, 20, 432–436.
	Rasche, C. & Tatler, B. W. (2011). Evidence for a Structural Analysis of Target Selection in Picture Viewing, Journal of Eye Movement Research 4(1):2, 1-12.
	Wade, N. J. & Tatler, B. W. (2010). Recognition and eye movements with partially hidden pictures of faces and cars in different orientations. i-Perception, 1(2), 103–120
	Tatler B W, Wade N J, Kwan H, Findlay J M, Velichovsky B M, (2010). Yarbus, eye movements and vision, i-Perception, 1(1), 7-27.
	Hirose, Y., Kennedy, A., & Tatler, B. W. (2010). Perception and memory across viewpoint changes in moving images. Under review at the Journal of Vision 10(4), 1-19.
	Tatler, B.W. (Ed.) (2009). Eye guidance and natural scenes. Psychology Press, Hove, UK. ISBN: 9781848727151. [A special issue of Visual Cognition]
	Tatler, B. W. (2009). Current understanding of eye guidance. Visual Cognition, 17(6-7), 777 - 789.
	Tatler, B. W., & Vincent, B. T. (2009). The prominence of behavioural biases in eye guidance. Visual Cognition, 17(6-7), 1029 - 1054
	Kuhn, G., Tatler, B. W., & Cole, G. (2009). You look where I look! Effect of gaze cues on overt and covert attention in misdirection. Visual Cognition, 17(6-7), 925 - 944.
	Land, M. F. & Tatler, B. W. (2009) Looking and acting: eye movements in everyday life. Contract with Oxford University Press
	Tatler, B. W., Thompson, P. & Troscianko, T. (Eds.) (2009). Landmarks in Perception. Special Issue of Perception, 38 (6)
	Tatler, B. W., Thompson, P. & Troscianko, T. (2009). Perceptual high-lights. Perception, 38(6), 791–794.
	Wade, N. J. & Tatler, B. W. (2009). Did Javal measure eye movements during reading?Journal of Eye Movement Research, 2(5):5, 1-7.
	Tatler, B. W. (2008). On the perception of natural scenes: An introduction to the special issue. Journal of Eye Movement Research, 2(2), 1: 1-4.
	Tatler, B. W., & Vincent, B. T. (2008). Systematic tendencies in scene viewing. Journal of Eye Movement Research, 2(2), 5: 1-18.
	Kuhn, G., Tatler, B. W., Findlay, J. M., & Cole, G. G. (2008). Misdirection in magic: Implications for the relationship between eye gaze and attention. Visual Cognition, 16(2-3), 391-405.
	Tatler, B. W., Wade, N. J., & Kaulard, K. (2008) Examining art: dissociating pattern and perceptual influences on oculomotor behaviour. Spatial Vision, 21 (1-2), 165-184
	Tatler, B. W., & Melcher, D. (2007) Pictures in mind: Initial encoding of object properties varies with the realism of the scene stimulus. Perception, 36, 1715-29.
	Tatler, B. W. (2007) The central fixation bias in scene viewing: selecting an optimal viewing position independently of motor biases and image feature distributions. Journal of Vision, 7(14):4, 1-17
	Tatler, B. W., & Hutton, S. B. (2007). Trial by trial effects in the antisaccade task: A multilevel analysis. Experimental Brain Research, 179(3), 387-396.
	Tatler, B. W., & Kuhn, G. (2007). Don't look now: The magic of misdirection. In R. P. G. van Gompel, M. H. Fischer, W. S. Murray & R. L. Hill (Eds.), Eye Movements: A window on mind and brain (pp. 697-714). Oxford: Elsevier
	Bestelmeyer, P. E. G., Tatler, B. W., Phillips, L. H., Fraser, G., Benson, P. J., & St Clair, D. (2006). Global visual scanning abnormalities in schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. Schizophrenia Research, 87(1-3), 212-222.
	Baddeley, R. J., & Tatler, B. W. (2006). High frequency edges (but not contrast) predict where we fixate: a Bayesian system identification analysis. Vision Research, 46, 2824-2833.
	Tatler, B. W., Baddeley, R. J., & Vincent, B. T. (2006). The long and the short of it: spatial statistics at fixation vary with saccade amplitude and task. Vision Research, 46(12), 1857-1862
	Kuhn, G., & Tatler, B. W. (2005) Magic and fixation: Now you don’t see it, now you do. Perception, 34(9), 1155-1161
	Wade, N. J. & Tatler, B. W. (2005) The moving tablet of the eye: The origins of modern eye movement research. New York: Oxford University Press
	Tatler, B. W., Gilchrist, I. D., & Land, M. F. (2005). Visual memory for objects in natural scenes: From fixations to object files. Quarterly Journal of Experimental Psychology Section A-Human Experimental Psychology, 58(5), 931-960.
	Tatler, B. W., Baddeley, R. J., & Gichrist, I. D. (2005) Visual correlates of eye movements: Effects of scale and time. Vision Research, 45 (5), 643-659.
	Wade, N. J., Tatler, B. W., & Heller, D. (2003). Dodge-ing the issue: Dodge, Javal, Hering and the measurement of saccades in eye movement research. Perception, 32(7), 793-804.
	Tatler, B. W., Gilchrist, I. D., & Rusted, J. (2003). The time course of abstract visual representation. Perception, 32(5), 579-592.
	Tatler, B. W., & Wade, N. J. (2003). On nystagmus, saccades and fixations. Perception, 32(2), 167-184.
	Tatler, B. W., & Troscianko, T. (2002). Last but not least: A rare glimpse of the eye in motion. Perception, 31(11), 1403-1406.
	Tatler, B. W. (2002). What information survives saccades in the real world? In J. Hyönä & D. Munoz & W. Heide & R. Radach (Eds.), The Brain's Eye: Neurobiological and Clinical Aspects of Oculomotor Research (pp. 149-163). Amsterdam: Elsevier.
	Tatler, B. W. (2002). How do people look at natural images? In J. A. Bullinaria & W. Lowe (Eds.), Proceedings of the Seventh Neural Computation and Psychology Workshop: Connectionist Models of Cognition and Perception (pp. 193-205). Singapore: World Scientific.
	Tatler, B. W. (2002). Computational neuroscience of vision by E. T. Rolls and G. Deco. Perception, 31(10), 1283-1284.
	Tatler, B. W. (2001). Re-presenting the case for representation. Behavioral and Brain Sciences, 24(5), 1006-1007.
	Tatler, B. W. (2001). Characterising the visual buffer: real-world evidence for overwriting early in each fixation. Perception, 30(8), 993-1006.
	Land, M. F., & Tatler, B. W. (2001). Steering with the head: The visual strategy of a racing driver. Current Biology, 11(15), 1215-1220.
	Burton, B. G., Tatler, B. W., & Laughlin, S. B. (2001). Variations in photoreceptor response dynamics across the fly retina. Journal of Neurophysiology, 86(2), 950-960.
	Tatler, B., O'Carroll, D. C., & Laughlin, S. B. (2000). Temperature and the temporal resolving power of fly photoreceptors. Journal of Comparative Physiology a-Sensory Neural and Behavioral Physiology, 186(4), 399-407.

Additional Information

Editorial work:

Associate editor for the British Journal of Psychology
Section editor for Perception
Guest editor (with Peter Thompson and Tom Troscianko) for special issue of Perception: Landmark papers in Percpetion.
Guest editor for special issue of Visual Cognition: Eye Guidance in Natural Scenes.
Guest editor for special issue of Journal of Eye Movement Research: Scene perception
On the editorial boards of Visual Cognition and the Journal of Eye Movement Research

Conference/workshop organising:

RANK mini-symposium on visual representation. The symposium brings leading researchers from around the world together with promising young investigators. (December 2007). Organisers: Prof Michael Land FRS, Prof John Mollon FRS, Dr. Ben Tatler and Dr. Hannah Smithson.
Symposium on scene perception at the 14th European Conference on Eye Movements in Potsdam (August 2007). Organiser: Dr Ben Tatler
8th Active Vision Workshop, held at the University of Dundee (September 2006). Organiser: Dr Ben Tatler
5th Active Vision Workshop, held at the University of Sussex (September 2003). Organisers: Prof Mike Land FRS and Dr Ben Tatler
Symposium on the history of eye movement research at the 12th European Conference on Eye Movements in Dundee (August 2003). Organisers: Prof. Nick Wade FRS and Dr Ben Tatler

Reviewing activities:

Since 2000 I have been a regular reviewer for a range of academic journals including: Perception, Journal of Experimental Psychology: Human Perception and Performance, Journal of Experimental Psychology: Learning, Memory and Cognition, Psychonomic Bulletin and Review, Visual Cognition, Vision Research, the Quarterly Journal of Experimental Psychology, Journal of Comparative Physiology A, Journal of Vision, Progress in Brain Research, Journal of the Transportation Research Forum
I have reviewed grants for The Wellcome Trust, ESRC and EPSRC

Contributions to the public understanding of science:

Media

2009    BBC1, ONE Show.
2008    British Psychological Society Research Digest. Report of research on magic.
2003   BBC1, Human senses: Vision.
2003   BBC3, Untold Beauty.
2001   Brighton Evening Argus. Interview about driving research.
2001   Mercury FM, Radio interview.
2000   Channel 4, Equinox: Full Throttle.

Public writing

2009 "The artist’s eye for science; the scientist's eye for art" In Designs for Life book (Dundee University Press)
2002 Daily Telegraph Science Writer of the Year Awards Runner-up

Exhibitions

2008   Contributed to "The Home Office" by Gavin Renwick, Duncan of Jordonstone Art College, Dundee
2008   Contributed to "Designs for Life" art/science collaborative project with Paul Harrison, Visual Research Centre, Dundee www.designsforlifeproject.co.uk
2000   Exhibitor at "New Frontiers in Science", The Royal Society of Edinburgh,
2000   Exhibitor at "New Frontiers in Science", Royal Society of London

Public talks

2010       British Science Association National Science and Engineering Week Lecture, Dundee
2008   Kill Your Timid Notion alternative film and music festival, Dundee
2007       Invited speaker at British Academy Festival of Science, University of York
2001-4   National science week lectures for 11-14 year olds, University of Sussex
2001-3   Invited talks to pupil of St. Bede's School, Hailsham, East Sussex

Invited talks: Plenary lectures

Tatler, B. W. (2011). Eye guidance in natural vision. Saccadometry: the next ten years - clinical and bioengineering aspects, Warsaw, Poland
Tatler, B. W. (2011). Eye guidance in natural vision. Active Vision: Artificial Intelligence and Simulation of Behaviour Convention, York, UK.
Tatler, B. W. (2009). Eye guidance in natural behaviour. COGAIN, Lyngby, Denmark
Tatler, B. W. (2009). Eye guidance in natural behaviour. SWAET, Stavanger, Norway
Tatler, B. W. (2008). Life after Salience: Eye guidance and behavioural biases. Die 9. Fachtagung der Gesellschaft für Kognitionswissenschaft

Invited talks: Invited talks

Tatler, B. W., Hirose, Y. & Kennedy, R. A. (2011). Perception of dynamic movie scenes and natural environments. 16th European Conference on Eye Movements. Marseilles, France
Tatler, B. W. (2011). Eye guidance in natural behaviour. Helsinki, Finland.
Tatler, B. W. (2011). Eye guidance in natural vision. Department of Psychology, Heriot-Watt University
Tatler, B. W. (2010). Eye guidance in natural behaviour: moving on from salience. Osnabrueck, Germany
Tatler, B. W. (2010). Eye guidance in natural behaviour. RANK symposium on Eye Movements: What Determines When and Where We Look? , Grasmere, UK
Tatler, B. W. (2009). Eye guidance in natural behaviour: moving on from salience. Humanisties Lab, Lund University, Sweden
Tatler, B. W. (2009). Eye guidance in natural behaviour. Bielefeld University, Germany
Tatler, B. W. (2009). Looking and acting: vision during natural behaviour. 15th European Conference on Eye Movements. Southampton, UK
Tatler, B. W. (2009). Looking and acting: vision during natural behaviour. Workshop on Gaze Patterns in Dynamic Scenes, Max Planck Institute, Leipzig, Germany
Tatler, B. W. (2009) Looking and acting: vision during natural behaviour. Philipps-Universitaet Marburg, Germany
Tatler, B. W. (2009). Looking and acting: vision during natural behaviour. School of Psychology, Bangor University, UK
Tatler, B. W. (2009). Looking and acting: vision during natural behaviour. Science Beyond Fiction, FET Conference, Prague, Czech Republic.
Tatler, B. W. (2008). Beyond salience: eye guidance and behavioural biases. Department of Psychology, University of Texas at Austin, USA.
Tatler, B. W. (2008). Beyond salience: eye guidance and behavioural biases. Max Planck Institute for Biological Cybernetics, Tuebingen, Germany
Tatler, B. W. & Vincent, B. T. (2008). Visual attention in natural scenes: A probabilistic perspective. International Congress for Psychology, Berlin, Germany
Tatler, B. W. (2008). Salience: what we don't understand about eye movements. Department of Psychology, Heriot-Watt University
Tatler, B. W. (2008). Salience: what we don't understand about eye movements. Department of Psychology, University of Southampton
Tatler, B. W. (2007). From lab to reality: how the stimulus medium influences visual representation. RANK symposium on Visual Representation in the Brain, Grasmere, UK
Tatler, B. W. (2007). Saccade biases in oculomotor control. Department of Psychology, University of Giessen, Germany
Tatler, B. W. (2007). Visual salience: what we don't understand about eye movements. Department of Psychology, University of Sheffield.
Tatler, B. W. (2007). Salience: what we don't understand about eye movements. Department of Psychology, University of Nottingham.
Tatler, B. W. (2007). Understanding how we look at natural scenes. British Academy Festival of Science, University of York, UK
Tatler, B. W. & Vincent, B. T. (2007) Image features and systematic tendencies in scene viewing. Invited symposium talk at European Society of Cognitive Psychology, Marseilles, France.
Tatler, B. W. & Vincent, B. T. (2007) Image features and systematic tendencies in scene viewing. Invited symposium talk at 14th European Conference on Eye Movements, Potsdam, Germany.
Tatler, B. W. (2007). Memory for objects in complex scenes: differences between real, photographic and artistic representations of scenes. Department of Psychology, University of Durham, UK
Tatler, B. W. (2007). Memory for objects in complex scenes: differences between real, photographic and artistic representations of scenes. Department of Psychology, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universitaet, Munich, Germany
2007 - Why look there? Salience, task or something else? Eye Movement Users Group, Department of Psychology, Edinburgh, UK
2006 - What do we remember about what we see? Departmental Seminar series, Department of Psychology, University of Aberdeen, UK
2006 - Why look there? Salience, task or something else? Departmental Seminar series, Department of Psychology, Nottingham University, UK
2005 - Looking and acting: vision in the real world. School of Life Sciences, University of Sussex, UK
2005 - An information theory analysis of eye movements. Fife and Tayside Vision Group (joint seminar series for Abertay, Dundee and St. Andrews), University of Dundee, UK
2005 - The salience map. School of Psychology, University of Dundee, UK
2004 - Visual correlates of eye movements. Schools seminar series, Department of Psychology, University of Dundee, UK
2003- Visual determinants of eye movements revealed by reverse correlation. Departmental seminar series, Center for Visual Science, University of Rochester, USA
2003 - Visual determinants of eye movements. Perception and communication group seminar series, University of Sussex, UK
2002 - What types of information survive eye movements? Craik Club, University of Cambridge, UK
2002 - Visual representation and the role of fixations. Cognitive and Developmental Research Group seminar series, Royal Holloway, University of London, UK
2001 - The active eye: information extraction from naturalistic scenes. Departmental seminar series, Laboratory of Experimental Psychology, University of Sussex, UK
2001 - How much of a scene is seen? Vision & Pattern Recognition Seminar, School of Cognitive and Computing Sciences, University of Sussex. UK

Main University menu

Templates Top-Level Menu