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Related Concept Videos

Association Areas of the Cortex

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Association areas are regions of the cerebral cortex that do not have a specific sensory or motor function. Instead, they integrate and interpret information from various sources to enable higher cognitive processes such as memory, learning, and decision-making. Some key association areas include the following:
Prefrontal Association Area: This area is located in the frontal lobe and is involved in planning, decision-making, and moderating social behavior. It connects with primary motor areas,...

Parallel Processing

Parallel Processing

The brain processes sensory information rapidly due to parallel processing, which involves sending data across multiple neural pathways at the same time. This method allows the brain to manage various sensory qualities, such as shapes, colors, movements, and locations, all concurrently. For instance, when observing a forest landscape, the brain simultaneously processes the movement of leaves, the shapes of trees, the depth between them, and the various shades of green. This enables a quick and...

Vision

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Motor and Sensory Areas of the Cortex

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 7, 2026

Investigating Object Representations in the Macaque Dorsal Visual Stream Using Single-unit Recordings

Investigating Object Representations in the Macaque Dorsal Visual Stream Using Single-unit Recordings

Published on: August 1, 2018

The neural fate of task-irrelevant features in object-based processing.

¹Department of Psychology, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138, USA. yaodaxu@wjh.harvard.edu

The Journal of Neuroscience : the Official Journal of the Society for Neuroscience

|October 22, 2010

Summary

Object-based processing of irrelevant features occurs but is transient. Its strength depends on the task

Area of Science:

Cognitive Psychology
Neuroscience
Visual Perception

Background:

Object-based processing links features of attended objects.
Recent studies show conflicting results on this phenomenon.
Understanding the conditions for object-based processing is crucial.

Purpose of the Study:

Investigate factors influencing object-based processing.
Determine when task-irrelevant features are processed with attended objects.
Examine the role of encoding load and time.

Main Methods:

Three experiments using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI).
Observers encoded object colors under varying load conditions.
Task-irrelevant shape processing was measured in a specific brain region.

More Related Videos

Creating Objects and Object Categories for Studying Perception and Perceptual Learning

Creating Objects and Object Categories for Studying Perception and Perceptual Learning

Published on: November 2, 2012

Translational Brain Mapping at the University of Rochester Medical Center: Preserving the Mind Through Personalized Brain Mapping

Translational Brain Mapping at the University of Rochester Medical Center: Preserving the Mind Through Personalized Brain Mapping

Published on: August 12, 2019

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jun 7, 2026

Investigating Object Representations in the Macaque Dorsal Visual Stream Using Single-unit Recordings

Investigating Object Representations in the Macaque Dorsal Visual Stream Using Single-unit Recordings

Published on: August 1, 2018

Creating Objects and Object Categories for Studying Perception and Perceptual Learning

Creating Objects and Object Categories for Studying Perception and Perceptual Learning

Published on: November 2, 2012

Translational Brain Mapping at the University of Rochester Medical Center: Preserving the Mind Through Personalized Brain Mapping

Translational Brain Mapping at the University of Rochester Medical Center: Preserving the Mind Through Personalized Brain Mapping

Published on: August 12, 2019

Main Results:

Object-based processing of irrelevant shapes was present at low color-encoding load.
This processing was attenuated or suppressed at high color-encoding load.
The effect was transient and not sustained over delay periods.

Conclusions:

Object-based processing of irrelevant features exists but is transient.
Encoding demand of task-relevant features modulates its magnitude.
This provides insight into the limits of attentional selection.