Dr. Andrea Pavan

Research focus

• Mechanisms and neural substrates underlying VSTM for simple visual characteristics (e.g., motion direction) using Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS).
• First-order and second-order motion perception: mechanisms and neural substrates.
• Motion aftereffects:
  - Rapid forms of visual motion priming and motion aftereffect.
  - Mechanisms and neural substrates underlying rapid forms of motion aftereffect using TMS.
  - Motion-induced position shift and Rapid positional aftereffects.
• Grouping and segmentation of visual features in textures.
• Energy models of motion perception.
• Lateral interactions and perceptual learning in normal sighted subjects and patients with macular degeneration.

Humboldt Research Fellowship

As a postdoc Humboldt Research Fellow, I have the opportunity to collaborate with Prof. Greenlee in a research project focussing on neural correlates of visual motion processing.

Journal articles

• Pavan, A., Marotti, R. B., & Mather, G. (2013). Motion-form interactions beyond the motion integration level: Evidence for interactions between orientation and optic flow signals. Journal of Vision, 13(6). doi:10.1167/13.6.16
• Pavan, A., Skujevskis, M., & Baggio, G. (2013). Motion words selectively modulate direction discrimination sensitivity for threshold motion. Frontiers in Human Neuroscience, 7, 134. doi:10.3389/fnhum.2013.00134
• Pavan, A., Contillo, A., & Mather, G. (2013). Modelling adaptation to
  directional motion using the Adelson-Bergen energy sensor. PLoS ONE, 8(3), e59298. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0059298
• Pavan, A., & Skujevskis, M. (2013). The role of stationary and dynamic test patterns in rapid forms of motion after-effect. Journal of Vision, 13(1), 10. doi:10.1167/13.1.10
• Mather, G., Pavan, A., Bellacosa, R.M., & Casco C. (in press). Psychophysical evidence for interactions between visual motion and form processing at the level of motion integrating receptive fields. Neuropsychologia, 50(1), 153-159.
  doi:10.1016/j.neuropsychologia.2011.11.013
• Maniglia, M., Pavan, A., Cuturi, L.F., Campana, G., Sato, G., & Casco, C. (2011). Reducing crowding by weakening inhibitory lateral interactions in the periphery with perceptual learning. PLoS One, 6(10):e25568. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0025568 
• Ruzzoli, M., Gori, S., Pavan, A., Pirulli, C., Marzi, C.A., & Miniussi, C. (2011). The neural basis of the Enigma illusion: A transcranial magnetic stimulation study. Neuropsychologia 49(13), 3648-3655.
  doi:10.1016/j.neuropsychologia.2011.09.020
• Pavan, A., Casco, C., Mather, G., Bellacosa, R.M., Cuturi, L.F., & Campana, G. (2011). The effect of spatial orientation on detecting motion trajectories in noise. Vision Research, 15, 51(18), 2077-84.
  doi:10.1016/j.visres.2011.08.001
• Pavan, A., Alexander, I., Campana, G., & Cowey, A. (2011). Detection of first- and second-order coherent motion in blindsight. Experimental Brain Research, 214(2), 261-271.
  doi: 10.1007/s00221-011-2828-3
• Campana, G., Pavan, A., Maniglia, M., & Casco, C. (2011). The fastest (and simplest), the earliest: the locus of processing of rapid forms of motion aftereffect. Neuropsychologia, 49(10), 2929-2934. doi:10.1016/j.neuropsychologia.2011.06.020
• Pavan, A., Cuturi, F.L., Maniglia, M., Casco, C., & Campana, G. (2011). Implied motion from static photographs influences the perceived position of stationary objects. Vision Research, 51, 187-194. doi:10.1016/j.visres.2010.11.004
• Pavan, A., Maniglia, M., Campana, G., & Casco, C. (2010). The role of high-level visual areas in short- and longer-lasting forms of neural plasticity. Neuropsychologia, 48(10) , 3069-3079. doi:10.1016/j.neuropsychologia.2010.06.018
• Alberti, C.F., Pavan, A., Campana, G., & Casco, C. (2010). Segmentation by single and combined features involves different contextual influences. Vision Research, 50(11), 1065-1073.
  doi:10.1016/j.visres.2010.03.019
• Pavan, A., Campana, G., Guerreschi, M., Manassi, M., & Casco, C. (2009). Separate motion-detecting mechanisms for first- and second-order patterns revealed by rapid forms of visual motion priming and motion aftereffect. Journal of Vision, 9(11):27, 1-16.
  doi:10.1167/9.11.27
• Mather, G. & Pavan, A. (2009). Motion-induced position shifts occur after motion integration. Vision Research, 49(23), 2741-2746. doi:10.1016/j.visres.2009.07.016.
• Mather, G., Pavan, A., Campana, G., & Casco, C. (2008). The motion aftereffect reloaded. Trends in Cognitive Sciences, 12(12): 481-7. doi:10.1016/j.tics.2008.09.002
• Pavan, A. & Mather, G. (2008). Distinct position assignment mechanisms revealed by cross-order motion. Vision Research, 48(21): 2260-8. doi:10.1016/j.visres.2008.07.001
• Campana, G., Pavan, A., & Casco, C. (2008). Priming of first- and second-order motion: mechanisms and neural substrates. Neuropsychologia, 46(2), 393-398.
  doi:10.1016/j.neuropsychologia.2007.07.019