Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 25, 2026
08:43
Combined Shuttle-Box Training with Electrophysiological Cortex Recording and Stimulation as a Tool to Study Perception and Learning
Published on: October 22, 2015
Insights into cortical mechanisms of behavior from microstimulation experiments
Mark H Histed1, Amy M Ni, John H R Maunsell
1Department of Neurobiology, Harvard Medical School, 220 Longwood Avenue, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
Progress in Neurobiology
|February 7, 2012
Summary
Electrical microstimulation reveals how specific neurons contribute to behavior. The adult brain shows remarkable plasticity, learning to process novel neuronal activity patterns anywhere in the cortex with practice.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Cognitive Science
- Neurophysiology
Background:
- Behavior arises from complex neural networks distributed across brain regions.
- Electrical microstimulation alters localized neuronal activity, offering insights into neural function.
- Understanding cortical contributions to behavior is crucial for neuroscience.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review findings on cortical function derived from microstimulation studies in animals and humans.
- To explore how microstimulation impacts sensory perception and behavioral responses.
- To investigate the brain's capacity to adapt to and utilize novel patterns of neural activity.
Main Methods:
- Behavioral studies utilizing electrical microstimulation in animal models and human subjects.
- Analysis of how microstimulation affects stimulus perception.
- Assessment of subjects' ability to detect cortical microstimulation with and without training.
Main Results:
- Microstimulation effects on perception are typically specific and linked to neuronal response properties.
- Detection of microstimulation varies by cortical region, with primary sensory/motor areas being more readily detected.
- Extensive practice enables detection of microstimulation across most cortical areas, indicating significant brain plasticity.
Conclusions:
- Microstimulation provides a powerful tool for mapping neuronal contributions to behavior.
- The adult brain exhibits substantial plasticity, capable of learning to process novel neural activity patterns.
- Cortical function is highly specific, yet adaptable, allowing for behavioral modification through practice and learning.
