|
Ph.D.
|
|
To fully understand sensory systems, one must study the domain of time. Sensations wax and wane over time, and may change in quality as they do. Further, a concentrated stimulus may seem weak if presented briefly, and a weak stimulus may seem strong if presented long enough. My current work focuses on how nasal irritation changes over time in the face of steady stimulation, and how one may trade time and concentration to maintain either a constant level of perceived irritation or a constant level of performance in a detection-task. The long-term goal is to create dynamic models of how sensation changes over time, both with steady and fluctuating exposure. Such models can help policy-makers set reasonable occupational exposure limits, and thereby help control the negative aspects of chemical irritation. Dynamic models could also help those in the food, flavor, and fragrance industries predict how consumers experience products over time. |
Paul Wise