doc. Mgr. Radovan Šikl, Ph.D.

Institute of Psychology
The Czech Academy of Sciences
Veveří 97
602 00 Brno
Phone: +420 532 290 129
E-mail: sikl@psu.cas.cz

Education

1996–2001: Ph.D. Psychology, Masaryk University, Brno
1989–1994: M.A. Psychology, Masaryk University, Brno

Professional experience

2003–present: Head of the Department of Cognitive Psychology, Institute of Psychology ASCR
1996–present: Researcher at Institute of Psychology ASCR

Scientific-organizational activities

2015–present: Czech Science Foundation, Member of the Evaluation P407 - Psychology, pedagogy; vice-chairman since 2016
2007–2012: Member of the Institutional Board of the Institute of Psychology ASCR

Research

Visual space perception

As a part of our visual space perception research, we conducted numerous experiments addressing mainly methodological issues. In one of our research project, we argue that the descriptors of visual space, such as exocentric size, egocentric distance, and exocentric direction, which are typically investigated independent of one another, are in fact inherently related. In another line of research, we compare the observers’ perceptual performance in three experiments with changing metrics of the requested response (judgments of ordinal, ratio, and absolute depth) and investigate whether with increased level of description of depth, the performance is decreasing accordingly. Publications [1], [3], [8], [12], [15], [21].

Visual perception after a long-term sensory deprivation

We examine the specifics of visual perception on the patients who, after a long period of blindness or visual deprivation, underwent a successful sight-restoring operation (artificial cornea implant, miniature telescope implant). For those patients, the perceptual domains that are particularly afflicted are object and face recognition, visual space perception, and a lower level of visual processing (i.e., perceptual organization). We hypothesize that their perceptual performance may be negatively affected by underlying problems with holistic processing of visual stimuli and by the decreased flexibility and robustness of perceptual representation, especially if the deprivation period was extremely long. On the other hand, the domains of color perception and motion perception appear to be largely intact. On the basis of our empirical findings, we try to design targeted training and rehabilitation routines for sight-recovery patients. Publications [1], [5], [6].

Confinement and its effect on visual perception

We had the opportunity to longitudinally investigate the perceptual performance of the volunteers participating in the Mars-500 project (http://mars500.imbp.ru), an isolation study that simulated a flight to Mars. The crewmembers spent 520 days in a sealed facility that was designed to resemble a spacecraft. From the list of potential stressors to which the crewmembers were exposed, we hypothesized that (i) the confinement to a restricted area and (ii) perceptual monotony are the most important factors potentially influencing the crewmembers’visual performance and we aimed our research to monitor how it changed throughout the confinement. Specifically, we expected changes (i) in the crewmembers’ sensitivity to perspective information and (ii) in the flexibility of perceptual representations. Publications [1], [4], [9].

Depth perception in architecture

An observer resolves the ambiguity of the retinal image so that s/he selects the simplest (simplicity principle) and the most probable (likelihood principle) interpretation consistent with the image. It is interesting to observe how is this inclination addressed in the work of architects. Using various kinds of manipulations in perspective, proportions, figure-ground relationship and lighting, the architects can easily elicit the perception that does not strictly correspond to the actual structure of the observed objects (buildings, streets, gardens). The reason for utilizing these manipulations is not simple deceiving the observer’s eyes, but rather the aim to strenghten artistic or spiritual impression or to offer a new way of objects’ interpretation. Publication [22].

Visual illusions

Vida! science center in Brno, Czech Republic holds an exhibition titled Illusiorium [Klamárium] from November 1, 2016 to May 9, 2017. The exhibition covering the area of 500 square meters consists of 30 well-known and lesser-known visual illusions chosen to demonstrate selected fundamental principles of human visual perception. There is an explanation provided for each exhibit: one rather short and simple (on the panel next to the exhibit) and one much longer (provided on a tear-off or in the catalog) for those who would like a fuller explanation. The exhibition is divided into five different rooms. In each of them, the visitor will become familiar with different aspects of human perception. Homepage: www.klamarium.cz

Organizational activities

2009–2014: Winter school of cognitive psychology
2006: Interdisciplinary conference Cognition
2011: Interdisciplinary conference Cognitiion
2011: Interdisciplinary workshop Depth perception

Grants

Principle investigator

2012–2013: "Longitudinal study of visual perception of sight-recovery patients after a long-term sensory deprivation", Grant project GA ČR P407/12/2528
2009–2012: "Perception and Memory Changes during Long-term Isolation", Grant project GA ČR 406/09/2003
2007–2009: "Selected aspects of the relationship between physical and visual space", Grant project GA ČR 406/07/167
2003–2005: "Visual perception of near space", Grant project GA ČR 406/03/D224
2000–2001: "Perceiving the structure of moving objects", Grant project GA ČR 406/00/0846

Co-principle investigator

2013–2015: "Prostorové vnímání fotografických scén", Grant project GA ČR 407–28709S

Courses taught

Psychology of visual perception (Institute of Psychology, Faculty of Arts, Masaryk University, Brno)
01 02 Introduction
03 04 Light, eye, and brain
05 06 Color vision
07 08 Depth perception
09 10 Object and face recognition
11 Motion perception
12 Neuropsychology of visual perception
Discussion on current topics of cognitive psychology (Institute of Psychology, Faculty of Arts, Masaryk University, Brno)

Selected publications

Šikl, R., Brucknerová, K., Švedová, H., Děchtěrenko, F., Ugwitz, P., Chmelík, J., Pokorná, H., Juřík, V. (2024): Who benefits and who doesn't in virtual reality learning: An experimental study comparing two types of school. Journal of Computer Assisted Learning, březen.
Šikl, R., Preiss, M., Hoskovcová, S. (2024): Between conformity and individuality: Psychologists in Czechoslovakia during normalization (1968–1989). History of Psychology, č. 3.
Nekolová, J., Kremláček, J., Lukavský, J., Šikl, R., Sin, M., Langrová, J., Szanyi, J., Jirásková, N. (2023): The intraocular implant and visual rehabilitation improve the quality of life of elderly patients with geographic atrophy secondary to age-related macular degeneration. Graefes Archive for Clinical and Experimental Ophthalmology, 261(1), 263-272.
Šikl, R., Vobořil, D. (2023): Archiv československé psychologie. Československá psychologie, 67(2), 161-165.
Čermák, I., Šikl, R., Chrz, V., Švaříčková Slabáková, R., Filip, M., Vobořil, D., Hoskovcová, S., Černá, M. (2022): Příběh československé psychologie: rozhovory s osobnostmi oboru II. Praha: Portál. ISBN 978-80-262-1944-6.
Čermák, I., Šikl, R., Vobořil, D., Chrz, V., Filip, M., Černá, M., Hoskovcová, S., Heller, D. (2021): Příběh československé psychologie: rozhovory s osobnostmi oboru I. Praha: Portál. ISBN 978-80-262-1659-9.
Hoskovcová, S., Černá, M., Šikl, R. (2020): Dějiny katedry psychologie Filozofické fakulty Univerzity Karlovy v Praze. Československá psychologie, 64(Supplement I), 62-73.
Šikl, R., Vobořil, D. (2020): Dějiny československé psychologie v údajích a číslech. Československá psychologie, 64(Supplement I), 3-42.
Šikl, R., Vobořil, D. (2020): Dějiny vysokoškolské výuky a studia psychologie v Československu v údajích a číslech. Československá psychologie, 64(Supplement I), 43-61.