Ian Saunders

I am a PhD student with Dr. Sethu Vijayakumar
since November. 2007. My background includes Computer Science (BA Hons.
Computer Science, University of Cambridge, 2006) and Neuroscience (MSc
Neuroinformatics, University of Edinburgh, 2007) I'm funded by the Edinburgh Neuroinformatics Doctoral Training Centre.
My current project aims to investigate the nature of tactile and
proprioceptive feedback from the hand, for performing tasks such as
object identification and object manipulation. This is being done in
collaboration with Touch Bionics,
using their i-Limb, an EMG-controlled prosthetic hand. By closing the
control loop with tactile and proprioceptive feedback the artificial
limb will show improved control and increased acceptance by the amputee.
Furthermore this system is highly manipluable, answering important
neuroscience questions about the role of haptic information in tasks
such as object identification and object manipulation.
Contact
IPAB, School of Informatics, University of Edinburgh
Informatics Forum, 1.38
10 Crichton Street
Edinburgh EH8 9AB
Email:i.saunders [@] sms.ed.ac.uk
Tel:
+44 (131) 651 3591
Previous Projects
- Role of CA1 and CA3 in episodic-like memory in rat: Using lesioned rats I was able to elucidate the role of hippocampal subunits in forming spatiotemporal memories. CA3 was responsible for the spatial component and CA1 for the temporal component of episodic-like memory formation.
- Image Fusion: Digital camera software was developed to fuse a flash photograph with a non-flash photograph taken in rapid succession. An efficient algorithm was developed that would pick the most 'visually appealing' components from the two images and combine them, eliminating the glare and false-colour created by the flash but preserving its fine detail and textural aspects.
Publications
- Langston, R.F., Stevenson, C.H., Wilson, C.L., Saunders, I. & Wood, E.R. (2010). The role of the CA1 and CA3 hippocampal subregions in memory for objects, places and contexts in the rat. Behav Brain Res . [pdf]
- Stephen Brooks; Ian Saunders; Neil A. Dodgson Image compression using sparse colour sampling combined with nonlinear image processing. Proceedings of SPIE Vol. 6492, IS&T/SPIE Conference on Human Vision and Electronic Imaging XII (2007) [pdf]


