Jason Rubinstein

Photo of Jason Rubinstein smiling, standing on Fillmore Street on a sunny day
Postdoctoral Fellow
PhD (Cognitive Psychology), Rutgers University
MS (Computer Science), Rutgers University
MS (Psychology), Rutgers University

I am a postdoctoral fellow working under the supervision of Dr. Preeti Verghese. My work at Smith-Kettlewell will focus on individuals with age-related macular degeneration (AMD) across two projects, investigating (1) the implications of central vision loss on information-gathering in visual displays and (2) the adjustments to smooth pursuit and motion perception in depth resulting from a binocular volume scotoma using virtual reality.

Projects

Characteristics of Smooth Pursuit in Individuals with Central Field Loss

This project investigates the properties of smooth pursuit eye movements in individuals with macular degeneration. Commonly believed to be a fovea-linked eye movement, smooth pursuit has not been previously investigated in individuals with central field loss, despite its importance for tracking moving objects, such as vehicles or pedestrians on a busy street.

Tracking a target in depth with central field loss

Bilateral field loss due to maculopathy creates a scotoma that extends in depth — a volume scotoma. Morevoer the size of the scotoma depends on whether observers turn their eyes to track a target as it comes closer. This project investigates how the volume scotoma affects the ability to track oncoming targets in these individuals, and in controls with a simulated volume scotoma.

Mentors