Prof. Karl R. Gegenfurtner

Karl Gegenfurtner

Giessen University
Department of Psychology
Alter Steinbacher Weg 38
35394 Giessen (Germany)

Phone:
+49 641 99 26 100
Fax:
+49 641 99 26 119
gegenfurtner@uni-giessen.de
Office:
Room 320, Building F1

The emphasis of my current research is on information processing in the visual system. Specifically, I am concerned with the relationship between low level sensory processes, higher level visual cognition, and sensorimotor integration.

My goal is to answer the question how complex scenes and objects are perceived in a natural environment, how they are represented in the brain, and how the visual information is used to drive the motor system.


Selected Publications

Title:
Emergent color categorization in a neural network trained for object recognition.

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CB 2022

Title:
The role of color in the perception of three-dimensional shape.

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CB 2022

Title:
Ice hockey spectators use contextual cues to guide predictive eye movements.

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CB 2021

Title:
Individual differences in visual salience vary along semantic dimensions

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PNAS 2019

Title:
Color perception: objects, constancy, and categories

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Annual Review 2018

Title:
Execution of saccadic eye movements affects speed perception

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PNAS 2018

Title:
Seeing lightness in the dark

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Current Biology 2017

Title:
Dynamic re-calibration of perceived size in fovea and periphery through predictable size changes

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Current Biology 2016

Title:
The many colours of the dress

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Current Biology 2015

Title:
Selection of visual information for lightness judgements by eye movements

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Philosophical Transactions 2013

Title:
Optimal sampling of visual information for lightness judgments

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PNAS  2013

Title:
Dynamic integration of information about salience and value for saccadic eye movements

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dynamic_integration

Title:
Visual Processing, Learning and Feedback in the Primate Eye Movement System

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trends_neuroscience_09

Title:
Improved visual sensitivity during smooth pursuit eye movements

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nature_neuro_08

Title:
Saccadic facilitation in natural backgrounds

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current_biol_08

Title:
Memory modulates color appearance

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nature_neuro_06

Title:
Neuronal processing delays are compensated in the sensorimotor branch of the visual system

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current_bio_03

Title:
Cortical mechanisms of colour vision

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cortical_color

Title:
Sensory and cognitive contributions of color to the perception of natural scenes

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current_bio_00

Title:
Grasping Visual Illusions: No Evidence for a Dissociation Between Perception and Action

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Psychological Science 2000

Title:
Seeing movement in the dark

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nature_99

Title:
Interactions between color and motion in the visual pathways

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trends_neuroscience_96

Title:
Contrast dependence of colour and luminance motion mechanisms in human vision

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nature_94



Curriculum Vitae

1981 – 1986:
Psychology Student at the University of Regensburg, Diploma in Psychology, 1986

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j_droesler

1986 – 1990:
Ph.D. in Experimental Psychology, New York University, New York

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g_sperling

1986 – 1990:
Ph.D. in Experimental Psychology, New York University, New York

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j_krauskopf

1990 – 1993:
Postdoc at the Howard Hughes Medical Institute and at the Center for Neural Science of the New York University

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t_movshon

1993 – 2000:
Research scientist at the MPI for Biological Cybernetics in Tübingen 1998: Habilitation for Medical Psychology and Behavioral Neurobiology

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h_buelthoff

2000 – 2001:
Professor for Biological Psychology at the Otto-von-Guericke University Magdeburg

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uni_magdeburg

Since 2001:
Professor for General Psychology at the Justus-Liebig-University Giessen

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jlu_phil

2014
Rank Prize Funds Lecture at the European Conference of Visual Perception 2014

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rank_prize

Since 2015
Member, German National Academy of Science (Leopoldina) Deputy senator since 2017

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leopoldina

2016
Wilhelm Wundt medal of the German Society for Psychology (DGPS)

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wilhelm wundt medal

since 2017
Member of the Wilhelm Wundt society

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wilhelm wundt soc

2019
Palmer Lecture of the Colour Group (GB)

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Palmer lecture

2019
Turrell Lecture Berlin

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Turrell Lecture



Services

Editorial board Journal Physiology (2002-2009)

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journal_of_physiology

Editorial board Vision Research (2007-2018)

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vision_research

Editorial board Visual Neuroscience (2008-2013)

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visual_neuroscience

Editorial board Journal of Vision (since 2009), Associate editor (since 2018)

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journal_of_vision

Editorial board Perception (2009-2018)

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perception

Psychological Research (2010-2014)

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psychological_research

2010-2014: Board of Directors Vision Science Society, President 2012/2013

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vision_science_society

Psychological Review (2015-2020)

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psychological_review

2016-: Fellowship selection committee Alexander von Humboldt-Foundation

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humboldt_foundation

2021-2023: Member, Henriette Hertz scouting program, Alexander von Humboldt-Foundation

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humboldt_foundation


Funding

2020 – 2025:
ERC Advanced Grant – Color 3.0: an object-oriented approach to color

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color30

2014 – 2021:
DFG-SFB/TRR 135 – Cardinal mechanisms of perception: Prediction, Valuation, Categorization

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sfb

2013 – 2022
International Research Training Group (DFG-IRTG 1901): The Brain in Action – BrainAct

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irtg

2017 – 2022:
Dynamics in vision and touch

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dyvito

2012 – 2016:
Perceptual representation of illumination, shape and material (EU) Partner Marie-Curie Initial Training Network

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prism

2010 – 2013:
Mesopic Vision (DFG)

mesopic_vision

2009 – 2014:
Perception of material properties (DFG Reinhart Koselleck-Projekt)

material_properties

2008 – 2012:
Co-ordination for optimal decisions in dynamic environments (EU) Partner Marie-Curie Initial Training Network

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dynamic_environments

2008 – 2011:
Augenbewegungen beim Lesen in unterschiedlichen Medien (LOEWE Teilprojekt im Schwerpunkt Kulturtechniken und ihre Medialisierung)

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augenbewegung

2006 – 2009:
Gaze-based communication (EU Partner STREP, FET-Open)

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gazecom

2004 – 2011:
Research Group „Perception and Action“ (DFG) Speaker

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perception_action

2004 – 2008:
Summer school „Visual Neuroscience“, head organizer (Volkswagen Foundation)

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summer_school

2003 – 2010:
Research training network NeuroAct „Gehirn und Verhalten“ (DFG), Co-Speaker

neuroact

2003 – 2007:
Perception for recognition and action (EU) Partner Marie-Curie Initial Training Network

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pra

2002 – 2006:
Perception of natural scenes (DFG)

deutsche_forschungsgemeinschaft

2002 – 2005:
Verbundprojekt Neue Verfahren der Informations- verarbeitung auf der Basis neurokognitiver Modellierung – ModKog

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bundesministerium_forschung

2001 – 2005:
Cortical mechanisms of color vision

deutsche_forschungsgemeinschaft