Gibson was unable, and indeed any human would have been unable, to say what the optimally efficient description of a natural environment might be. But a neural network can be designed to automatically compute such a description. And evolution ensures that when it is sufficiently universal the genes discover it. Psychophysical experiments, physiological investigation, and mathematical plus computational modeling are all essential ingredients in understanding how the mind and brain operate. In each of these domains, modern techniques are quite complex, and there is too much for one person to do.
Collaboration is necessary.
I believe I have acquired the skills to be able to organize collaborative research with students and with faculty colleagues. Spatial extent of coherent sensory-evoked cortical activity. Advantages and limitations of magnetic source imaging. Human Auditory Primary and Association Cortex Have Differing Lifetimes for Activation Traces. Physiological Measures Predict Behavioral Lifetime of Human Auditory Sensory Memory.