Betina Ip

The goal of my research is to understand how the brain transforms sensory information into something we can see and feel. The current focus of my research is how images from our two eyes are combined to create a 3-dimensional world.  Our ability to see in depth arises in the cerebral cortex, where the similarity and differences in retinal images are compared and fused to create a single image. While early research suggested that stereopsis arises in the primary visual cortex, we now know that many regions in the visual hierarchy respond to binocular disparity. One critical objective is to understand to which extent different regions participate in stereopsis and binocular visuo-motor tasks.

My main methods are a combination of human brain imaging and precise measures of perception. Current neuro-imaging methods allow an insight into how neuronal populations respond to visual stimuli, and can also provide a profile of cortical neurochemicals. Recently, I've started working with volunteers with abnormal binocular vision to help us understand how changes in the balance between the two eyes can affect brain responses and brain chemistry.