Gregory Francis

PULSe Contributor - not currently hosting students for laboratory rotations or recruiting students in the laboratory

Current Research Interests:

My laboratory focuses on three main topics. First, I study neural network models of human behavior. I have studied the dynamic characteristics of a neural network model of visual perception and, through computer simulation, demonstrated that the model's behavior matches human data on dynamic vision. The model properties are now being further examined to explain additional human data. Additional research investigates the dynamic properties of recurrent networks for pattern recognition and memory.

I've made available an on-line set of simulations for models of backward masking. These simulations allow anyone to use the models without having to write their own code.

Second, I explore human-computer interactions. Computer information is often presented in a menu format where a user moves through a sequence of menus to reach desired information (think of an ATM money machine). My research has identified a quantitative method for organizing these types of menus so that they are easy to use. Currently, these methods are organized in MFDTool, a software aid for the design of multifunction displays. Much of this research has been supported by the U.S. Army Aeromedical Research Laboratory at Ft. Rucker, AL.

Finally, I am involved in the creation of a novel set of teaching tools. The Cogntive Psychology Online Laboratory provides a set of java program that allow a user to explore some online demonstrations of experiments in cognitive psychology. A similar project called the Visual Perception Online Laboratory is dedicated to experiments related to vision.

Selected Publications:

Dombrowe, I., Hermens, F., Francis, G., & Herzog, M. H. (2009). The roles of mask luminance and perceptual grouping in visual backward masking. Journal of Vision, 9(11):22, 1-11, http://journalofvision.org/9/11/22/ , doi:10.1167/9.11.22.

Hermens, F., Herzog, M. H. & Francis, G. (2009). Combining simultaneous with temporal masking. Journal of Experimental Psychology: Human Perception and Performance, 35(4), 977-988.

Francis, G. (2009). Cortical dynamics of figure-ground segmentation: Shine-through. Vision Research, 49, 140-163.

Francis, G., Rash, C. E. & Russo, M. B. (2009). The human-machine interface challenge. In (Eds. C.E. Rash, M.B. Russo, T.R Letowski, & E.T. Schmeisser), Helmet-Mounted Displays: Sensory, Perceptual and Cognitive Issues. U. S. Army Aeromedical Research Laboratory: Fort Rucker, AL. pp. 29-44.

Francis, G. & Rash, C. E. (2009). Cognitive factors. In (Eds. C.E. Rash, M.B. Russo, T.R Letowski, & E.T. Schmeisser), Helmet-Mounted Displays: Sensory, Perceptual and Cognitive Issues. U. S. Army Aeromedical Research Laboratory: Fort Rucker, AL. pp. 619-673.

Francis, G. & Wede, J. (2010). Properties of long-range illusory contours produced by offset-arcs. Perception, 30, 1466-1475.

Francis, G., Bias, K. & Shive, J. (2010). The psychological four color mapping problem. Journal of Experimental Psychology: Applied, 16, 109-123.

Francis, G. (2010). Modeling filling-in of afterimages. Attention, Perception & Psychophysics, 72, 19-22.

Francis, G. & Johnson, E. (2011). Speed-accuracy tradeoffs in specialized keyboards. International Journal of Human-Computer Studies, 69, 526538.

Kim. J. & Francis, G. (2011). Color selection, color capture, and afterimage filling-in. Journal of Vision, 11(3):22, http://jov.arvojournals.org/article.aspx?articleid=2191780 , doi:10.1167/11.3.23.

Ruter, J., Francis, G., Frehe, P., & Herzog, M. H. (2011). Testing dynamical models of vision. Vision Research, 51, 343351.

Francis, G., Neath, I. & Goodwin, S. (2011). Virtual Psychology Laboratory: Wadsworth Publishing.