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Curriculum Vita
Visual Perception and Spatial Cognition
margaret.tarampi.com

Research Interests

Interdisciplinary thinking has become a central component to my theoretical and practical pursuits. I have built upon the proposition that there is a relationship between psychology and architecture, and more broadly the arts in all of my endeavors. This type of interdisciplinary thinking has shaped my personal and academic aspirations. Interdisciplinary thinking is a powerful mechanism for learning and growth. It can address issues resulting from a purely specialized education, such as fragmentation and stifling of creativity, by allowing for novel and innovative approaches. For example, my research work focuses on understanding the role that physical environments play in human perception and behavior, an area that is not well understood. During my graduate career (advised by Dr. Sarah Creem-Regehr), I begun a program of research investigating the cognitive mechanisms that underlie spatial perception and cognition in special populations including individuals with vision impairments and spatial experts such as dancers and architects. My training as an architect informs theoretical questions about the nature of spatial ability in spatial experts. In my art, I explore assumptions and manipulations of the human perceptual system.

Education

PhD, University of Utah (Psychology, 2010-present)
MS, University of Utah (Psychology)
MArch, Virginia Tech (Architecture)
BArch, Carnegie Mellon University (Architecture)

Selected Publications

Rand, K. M., Tarampi, M. R., Creem‐Regehr, S.H., & Thompson, W.B. (in press). The Influence of Object Ground Contact on Perception of Distance and Size under Severely Degraded Vision. Seeing and Perceiving. Download

Rand, K.M., Tarampi, M.R., Creem-Regehr, S.H., & Thompson, W.B. (2011). The Importance of a Visual Horizon for Distance Judgments under Severely Degraded Vision. Perception, 40(2), 143-154. Download

Tarampi, M.R., Creem-Regehr, S.H., & Thompson, W.B. (2010). Intact Spatial Updating with Severely Degraded Vision. Attention, Perception, & Psychophysics, 72(1), 23-27. Download

Why I am awesome...

- I keep good company (see my adorable puppy with special needs...)