Research Interests

Language-vision interaction

Language processing is multimodal in the sense that it often involves dynamic interaction among perceptual, attentional as well as memory systems. Significant insights have come from recent studies using the visual world paradigm, where language and scene interaction has been found to be dynamic, among other things in visual cognition. My current interests lie in understanding this dynamics and how linguistic and visual representations develop and interact over time.  Current and past research in this area includes language-scene interaction in figurative language processing, perceiving human and animal pictures and currently scene memory in different subjects. Together with Fernando- Marmajejo Ramos (Adelaide University) I have been exploring spatial aspects of language as evident in eye movements and modeling of language-scene interaction

Oculomotor control in bilinguals

Recent research on bilinguals suggests that there is enhanced cognitive control. However, still the basis of such control is not well understood. With graduate student Niharika Singh, I am  studying inhibitory control mechanisms in bilinguals. Recording of eye movements during different tasks requiring inhibition and control would provide valuable evidence on cognitive control in bilinguals. With grants from DST (Department of Science and Technology) I am also studying lexical access in bilinguals using visual word paradigm both during listening and speaking. I am currently collaborating with Nivedita Mani (University of Gottingen) on  issues related to bilingual lexical access. I am also investigating how bilingualiam affects IOR with Ray Klein ( Dalhousie University).

Language and conceptual processing in illiterates

Cognitive processing in illiterates has not been explored much. Together with Falk Huettig ( Max Planck Institute for Psycholinguistics), I have been studying language and conceptual processing in illiterates. Since formal literacy could have substantial effects of visual attention and perceptual strategies. Using visual world eye tracking paradigm, we are studying if illiterates spontaneously activate information related to phonology, semantics, color and attributes.

Modeling of eye movements

In spite of several models on eye movement control, the very nature of fixations and saccades are not well understood. Together with Anita Mehta (S N Bose Centre, Kolkata) I am trying to understand properties of fixations and saccades as dynamic system. Since fixations and saccades are dynamically related to attentional systems.

Hindi sentence processing

I am carrying out studies on Hindi sentence processing testing issues such as  word order effects as well as the nature of antecepatory processing involved. I collaborate with Narayanan Srinivasan and Kamal Chaudhary ( CBCS) on these studies.Methods used are self paced study, eye tracking while reading and recording ERPs.