Dr Keith May
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Email
keith.may@essex.ac.uk -
Location
3.713, Colchester Campus
Profile
Biography
I studied Psychology at York University, UK, and then took research jobs at BT labs and St Andrews University. My PhD (at Aston University) investigated edge processing in human vision. I then had postdoc research positions at UCL, McGill University, Bradford University, UCL again, City University London, and UCL (yet again). In 2014 I was awarded the AVA David Marr Medal. I joined the Essex University Psychology Department as a lecturer in 2016.
Research and professional activities
Research interests
My work investigates the processing performed by the human visual system. My research mainly falls into the following areas: perceptual encoding, edge processing, visual grouping, visual attention, and coding efficiency. I also work on face perception and memory.
Teaching and supervision
Current teaching responsibilities
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Psychology in the Real World (PS516)
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The Criminal Mind (PS518)
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Theory and Methods in Cognitive Neuroscience and Neuropsychology (PS949)
Publications
Journal articles (32)
Holdstock, JS., Dalton, P., May, KA., Boogert, S. and Mickes, L., (2022). Lineup identification in young and older witnesses: does describing the criminal help or hinder?. Cognitive Research: Principles and Implications. 7 (1), 51-
Kingdom, FAA., Read, JCA., Hibbard, PB. and May, KA., (2022). Special issue: Coding strategies in binocular vision and stereopsis. Vision Research. 193, 107989-107989
May, K. and Zhaoping, L., (2022). Li and Atick's theory of efficient binocular coding: A tutorial and mini-review.. Vision Research. 201, 107950-107950
Kingdom, FAA., Yared, K-C., Hibbard, PB. and May, KA., (2020). Stereoscopic depth adaptation from binocularly correlated versus anti-correlated noise: Test of an efficient coding theory of stereopsis. Vision Research. 166, 60-71
May, KA. and Zhaoping, L., (2019). Face perception inherits low-level binocular adaptation.. Journal of Vision. 19 (7), 7-7
May, KA. and Vincent, BT., (2017). Fewer Statistical Tests … or Better Ones?. Perception. 46 (1), 3-5
May, KA. and Zhaoping, L., (2016). Efficient Coding Theory Predicts a Tilt Aftereffect from Viewing Untilted Patterns. Current Biology. 26 (12), 1571-1576
Solomon, JA., May, KA. and Tyler, CW., (2016). Inefficiency of orientation averaging: Evidence for hybrid serial/parallel temporal integration. Journal of Vision. 16 (1), 13-13
May, KA. and Solomon, JA., (2015). Connecting psychophysical performance to neuronal response properties I: Discrimination of suprathreshold stimuli. Journal of Vision. 15 (6), 8-8
May, KA. and Solomon, JA., (2015). Connecting psychophysical performance to neuronal response properties II: Contrast decoding and detection. Journal of Vision. 15 (6), 9-9
Hansen, BC., May, KA. and Hess, RF., (2014). One "shape" fits all: The orientation bandwidth of contour integration. Journal of Vision. 14 (13), 17-17
Dumoulin, SO., Hess, RF., May, KA., Harvey, BM., Rokers, B. and Barendregt, M., (2014). Contour extracting networks in early extrastriate cortex. Journal of vision. 14 (5), 18-18
May, KA. and Solomon, JA., (2013). Four Theorems on the Psychometric Function. PLoS ONE. 8 (10), e74815-e74815
May, KA. and Zhaoping, L., (2013). The potential roles of saturating and supersaturating contrast-response functions in conjunction detection: Reply to Peirce. Journal of Vision. 13 (4), 22-22
May, KA., Zhaoping, L. and Hibbard, PB., (2012). Perceived Direction of Motion Determined by Adaptation to Static Binocular Images. Current Biology. 22 (1), 28-32
McIlhagga, WH. and May, KA., (2012). Optimal edge filters explain human blur detection. Journal of Vision. 12 (10), 9-9
Huang, P-C., Maehara, G., May, KA. and Hess, RF., (2012). Pattern masking: The importance of remote spatial frequencies and their phase alignment. Journal of Vision. 12 (2), 14-14
May, KA. and Zhaoping, L., (2011). Exploring the roles of saturating and supersaturating contrast-response functions in conjunction detection and contrast coding. Journal of Vision. 11 (9), 11-11
Zhaoping, L., Geisler, WS. and May, KA., (2011). Human Wavelength Discrimination of Monochromatic Light Explained by Optimal Wavelength Decoding of Light of Unknown Intensity. PLoS ONE. 6 (5), e19248-e19248
May, KA. and Georgeson, MA., (2010). Corrigendum to “Blurred edges look faint, and faint edges look sharp: The effect of a gradient threshold in a multi-scale edge coding model” [Vision Res. 47(13) (2007) 1705–1720]. Vision Research. 50 (10), 996-996
May, KA. and Zhaoping, L., (2009). Effects of surrounding frame on visual search for vertical or tilted bars. Journal of Vision. 9 (13), 20-20
May, KA. and Zhaoping, L., (2009). Effects of surrounding frame on visual search for vertical or tilted bars. Journal of Vision. 9 (13), 1-19
Hess, RF., Baker, DH., May, KA. and Wang, J., (2008). On the decline of 1st and 2nd order sensitivity with eccentricity. Journal of Vision. 8 (1), 19-19
May, KA. and Hess, RF., (2008). Effects of element separation and carrier wavelength on detection of snakes and ladders: Implications for models of contour integration. Journal of Vision. 8 (13), 4-4
May, KA. and Hess, RF., (2007). Ladder contours are undetectable in the periphery: A crowding effect?. Journal of Vision. 7 (13), 9-9
May, KA. and Hess, RF., (2007). Dynamics of snakes and ladders. Journal of Vision. 7 (12), 13-13
May, KA. and Georgeson, MA., (2007). Added luminance ramp alters perceived edge blur and contrast: A critical test for derivative-based models of edge coding. Vision Research. 47 (13), 1721-1731
Georgeson, MA., May, KA., Freeman, TCA. and Hesse, GS., (2007). From filters to features: Scale–space analysis of edge and blur coding in human vision. Journal of Vision. 7 (13), 7-7
Zhaoping, L. and May, KA., (2007). Psychophysical Tests of the Hypothesis of a Bottom-Up Saliency Map in Primary Visual Cortex. PLoS Computational Biology. 3 (4), e62-e62
May, KA. and Georgeson, MA., (2007). Blurred edges look faint, and faint edges look sharp: The effect of a gradient threshold in a multi-scale edge coding model. Vision Research. 47 (13), 1705-1720
Perrett, DI., May, KA. and Yoshikawa, S., (1994). Facial shape and judgements of female attractiveness. Nature. 368 (6468), 239-242
Thompson, P., May, K. and Stone, R., (1993). Chromostereopsis: a multicomponent depth effect?. Displays. 14 (4), 227-234
Book chapters (2)
Hess, RF., May, KA. and Dumoulin, SO., (2014). Contour integration: Psychophysical, neurophysiological, and computational perspectives. In: The Oxford Handbook of Perceptual Organization. Editors: Wagemans, J., . Oxford University Press. 9780199686858
(2009). Computational Modelling in Behavioural Neuroscience. In: Computational Modelling in Behavioural Neuroscience: Closing the Gap Between Neurophysiology and Behaviour. Editors: Heinke, D. and Mavritsaki, E., . Psychology Press. 137- 164
Conferences (8)
May, K. and Li, Z., (2016). Perceived Direction of Tilt Determined by Adaptation to Unoriented or Untilted Binocular Stimuli: Surprising Predictions of Efficient Coding Theory
May, K. and Li, Z., (2015). Tilt aftereffect generated by isotropic adaptation stimuli: A counterintuitive prediction of Li and Atick's efficient binocular coding theory
May, KA., Zhaoping, L. and Hibbard, PB., (2010). Binocular integration in human vision adapts to maximize information coding efficiency
Georgeson, MA., May, KA. and Barbieri-Hesse, GS., (2010). Perceiving edge blur: the Gaussian-derivative template model
May, K. and Hess, R., (2010). Implementing curve detectors for contour integration
Li, Z. and May, K., (2010). Human monochromatic light discrimination explained by optimal signal decoding
May, K., Li, Z. and Hibbard, P., (2010). Binocular integration in human vision adapts quickly to maximize coding efficiency
May, KA. and McIlhagga, WH., (2009). Probing edge-blur perception with reverse correlation
