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Coarse-scale biases for spirals and orientation in human visual cortex.

Jeremy Freeman1, David J Heeger, Elisha P Merriam

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Decoding orientation in the human brain using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) relies on coarse-scale biases, not fine-scale columnar selectivity. These findings clarify interpretation of fMRI data in visual cortex research.

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Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Visual Perception
  • Neuroimaging

Background:

  • Multivariate decoding analyses of functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) data are common but their interpretation is debated.
  • Orientation decoding in the primary visual cortex (V1) is thought to reflect coarse-scale biases, such as radial orientation over-representation.
  • Decoding of fMRI responses to spirals suggests fine-scale columnar selectivity may contribute.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the scale of orientation selectivity in human V1 using fMRI.
  • To determine whether coarse-scale biases or fine-scale columnar selectivity explain orientation decoding.
  • To assess the robustness of orientation decoding across different stimulus types.

Main Methods:

  • Measured fMRI responses in human V1 to oriented gratings and spirals.
  • Analyzed the spatial topography of orientation preferences for both stimulus types.
  • Predicted spiral preference from orientation and retinotopic position preferences.

Main Results:

  • Oriented gratings showed complex topography with radial bias in periphery and vertical bias near fovea.
  • Spiral responses exhibited coarse-scale organization across visual quadrants.
  • Voxel preference for spirals was predictable from orientation and spatial position preferences.

Conclusions:

  • A coarse spatial scale bias for local stimulus orientation is evident in V1.
  • This coarse-scale bias is robust across different visual stimuli (gratings and spirals).
  • The observed coarse-scale bias sufficiently explains orientation decoding from fMRI data in V1.