Computational modelling and simulation figure
Computational models connect perceptual theory with simulation, prediction, datasets, and interactive systems.

Computational Modelling

Formal models of perception, timing, movement, and interaction

Computational modelling is used to explain perceptual decisions, predict behaviour, and guide the design of interactive systems. The work includes Bayesian cue integration, Kalman filtering, signal processing, simulation, data-driven haptic rendering, psychometric modelling, movement analysis, and machine learning.

Many of the models address uncertainty. Sensory signals are noisy, delayed, context-dependent, and often only indirectly related to the property being judged. Formal models help explain how people combine evidence across modalities, how expectations shape perceived timing, why visual-haptic conflicts change perceived stiffness, and how tactile information may be encoded by skin and mechanoreceptor systems.

The modelling strand also supports open resources and technology translation. It underpins datasets and catalogues for XR interaction, tools for timing and psychometric analysis, models of musical synchronisation, simulations of tactile ageing, and methods for turning perceptual knowledge into haptic rendering, VR measurement, and human-machine interaction systems.

Key Questions

How can formal models explain perceptual decisions, cue integration, timing, and movement?
Which assumptions about uncertainty, delay, priors, and evidence accumulation predict behaviour?
How can simulation and data analysis support haptic rendering, XR datasets, and experimental design?
How do models connect basic perceptual theory with usable interactive systems?

Related Keywords

bayesian model kalman filter signal processing simulation data analysis diffusion model linear regression model deformable models movement analysis kinematics

Portfolio and Resources

XR Text Trove Open catalogue and analysis of XR text entry techniques, connected to the CHI 2025 TEXT paper and Google-supported research. Locomotion Vault Public resource for analysing, comparing, and standardising VR locomotion techniques. VR delay measurement code Software supporting reproducible measurement of end-to-end latency in virtual reality systems, linked to work on timing accuracy in psychophysical and XR experiments. PrendoSim software Proxy-hand-based robot grasp generation software for studying, simulating, and demonstrating object handovers. Virtuoso Strings dataset Open string ensemble recordings, scores, and onset annotations for timing analysis, automatic music transcription, and ARME research. Aging Touch website Public research resource on tactile perception, ageing, and surface texture perception, linked to BBSRC-supported work. Spearman-Karber and WAVE method scripts Reproducible scripts for psychophysical threshold estimation and timing analysis.

Featured Publications

D. S. Fraser, M. Di Luca, J. L. Cook (2025). Biological kinematics: a detailed review of the velocity-curvature power law calculation. Experimental Brain Research.

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H. Tremonte de Carvalho, M. Li, M. Di Luca, A. M. Wing (2024). A Kalman Filter Model for synchronisation in musical ensembles. Proceedings of the 25th International Society for Music Information Retrieval Conference (ISMIR 2024), pp. 618-624.

PDF Cite Project Source Document DOI ISMIR 2024

D. Deflorio, M. Di Luca, A. M. Wing (2023). Skin properties and afferent density in the deterioration of tactile spatial acuity with age. The Journal of Physiology, 601(3), 517-533.

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Articles in computational modelling 23

D. S. Fraser, M. Di Luca, J. L. Cook (2025). Biological kinematics: a detailed review of the velocity-curvature power law calculation. Experimental Brain Research.

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H. Tremonte de Carvalho, M. Li, M. Di Luca, A. M. Wing (2024). A Kalman Filter Model for synchronisation in musical ensembles. Proceedings of the 25th International Society for Music Information Retrieval Conference (ISMIR 2024), pp. 618-624.

PDF Cite Project Source Document DOI ISMIR 2024

D. Deflorio, M. Di Luca, A. M. Wing (2023). Skin properties and afferent density in the deterioration of tactile spatial acuity with age. The Journal of Physiology, 601(3), 517-533.

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Davide Deflorio, Massimiliano Di Luca, Alan Wing (2022). Skin and mechanoreceptor contribution to tactile input for perception: a review of simulation models. Frontiers in Human Neuroscience.

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Michele Fornaciai, Eleni Markouli, Massimiliano Di Luca (2018). Modality-specific temporal constraints for state-dependent interval timing. Scientific Reports.

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Jean-Paul Noel, Majed Samad, Andrew Doxon, Justin Clark, Sean Keller, Massimiliano Di Luca (2018). Peri-personal space as a prior in coupling visual and proprioceptive signals. Scientific Reports.

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Massimiliano Di Luca, Darren Rhodes (2016). Optimal Perceived Timing: Integrating Sensory Information with Dynamically Updated Expectations. Scientific Reports.

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Darren Rhodes, Massimiliano Di Luca (2016). Temporal Regularity of the Environment Drives Time Perception. PLOS ONE.

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Min Susan Li, Darren Rhodes, Massimiliano Di Luca (2016). For the Last Time: Temporal Sensitivity and Perceived Timing of the Final Stimulus in an Isochronous Sequence. Timing and Time Perception.

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Markus Rank, Massimiliano Di Luca (2015). Speed/accuracy tradeoff in force perception. Journal of Experimental Psychology: Human Perception and Performance.

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Jessica Hartcher-O'Brien, Massimiliano Di Luca, Marc O. Ernst (2014). The duration of uncertain times: Audiovisual information about intervals is integrated in a statistically optimal fashion. PLoS ONE.

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Massimiliano Di Luca, Marc O Ernst (2014). Computational aspects of softness perception. Multisensory softness.

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Katja M. Mayer, Massimiliano Di Luca, Marc O. Ernst (2014). Duration perception in crossmodally-defined intervals. Acta Psychologica.

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B J Mohler, Massimiliano Di Luca, H H Bülthoff (2013). Multisensory contributions to spatial perception. Handbook of Spatial Cognition.

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Claudio Zito, Rustam Stolkin, Marek Kopicki, Massimiliano Di Luca, Jeremy L Wyatt (2012). Exploratory reach-to-grasp trajectories for uncertain object poses. Workshop on Beyond Robotic Grasping (IROS).

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Massimiliano Di Luca, B. Knörlein, M. O. Ernst, M. Harders (2011). Effects of visual-haptic asynchronies and loading-unloading movements on compliance perception. Brain Research Bulletin.

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Massimiliano Di Luca (2011). Perceived compliance in a pinch. Vision Research.

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Marieke Rohde, Massimiliano Di Luca, Marc O. Ernst (2011). The rubber hand illusion: Feeling of ownership and proprioceptive drift Do not go hand in hand. PLoS ONE.

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Martin Kuschel, Massimiliano Di Luca, Martin Buss, Roberta L. Klatzky (2010). Combination and integration in the perception of visual-haptic compliance information. IEEE Transactions on Haptics.

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Raphael Höver, Massimiliano Di Luca, Matthias Harders (2010). User-based evaluation of data-driven haptic rendering. ACM Transactions on Applied Perception.

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Peter W. Battaglia, Massimiliano Di Luca, Marc O. Ernst, Paul R. Schrater, Tonja Machulla, Daniel Kersten (2010). Within- and cross-modal distance information disambiguate visual size-change perception. PLoS Computational Biology.

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Raphael Höver, Massimiliano Di Luca, Gábor Székely, Matthias Harders (2009). Computationally efficient techniques for data-driven haptic rendering. Proceedings - 3rd Joint EuroHaptics Conference and Symposium on Haptic Interfaces for Virtual Environment and Teleoperator Systems, World Haptics 2009.

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Massimiliano Di Luca, Fulvio Domini, Corrado Caudek (2004). Spatial integration in structure from motion. Vision Research.

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Related Research Areas

Psychophysics Measuring perception, action, and user experience Multisensory Perception How the brain combines uncertain signals during perception and action Temporal Perception Synchrony, duration, recalibration, and timing in interactive systems Extended Reality Immersive systems grounded in perceptual science
Massimiliano Di Luca
Massimiliano Di Luca
Associate Professor in Psychology and Computer Science

Associate Professor in Psychology and Computer Science at the University of Birmingham, leading interdisciplinary research in multisensory perception, extended reality, haptics, and computational cognitive science.