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ENACTIVE PERCEPTION

Breaking down the Cartesian boundary between mind and world, this theory suggests that perception - and experience - arise from our continuous sensorimotor engagement with the world. This notion is still hotly debated by philosophers, not least of all because it requires us to rethink the importance of inner representations of the world.

As an exhibit maker, I find O'Regan and Noe's views (see below) very appealing. They may help exhibit makers to devise rich and immersive, novel experiences by making systems that create new couplings between the dynamics of sounds and images with a user's physical actions. I've been exploiting this idea in my work entitled 'enactive deception' where I try to create illusions by mismatching sensory modalities (this is very early work - not to be taken too seriously by aficionados in this field).

 

Sites on enactive perception

sensory substitution

An array of vibrators subsutitute for vision through the eyes (source: Bach-y-Rita et al). The vibrators are held against the stomach - the strength of their vibration varies according to the brightness of pixels on a TV camera, worn on the subject's head.

 

Experience Without the Head
Key papers from Alva Noë, professor of philosophy at the University of California, Berkeley.

Primer on enactive perception
A useful introduction, some great demos and papers from Kevin O'Regan et al, including references to recent work on sensory substitution.

Putting the brakes on enactive perception
A challenge to the above by Jesse Prinz, 2006

Tactile sensory-substitution studies by Bach-y-Rita et al
Includes a device that lest you 'see' through your tongue. This work demonstrates the plasticity of the brain and our ability to adapt to novel sensorimotor contingencies.