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Veridical stimulus localization is linked to human area V5/MT+ activity
Anna K Bonkhoff1, Eckart Zimmermann1, Gereon R Fink2
1Cognitive Neuroscience, Institute of Neuroscience and Medicine (INM-3), Research Centre Juelich, 52425 Juelich, Germany.
Neuroimage
|May 13, 2017
Summary
Brain activity in human motion complex V5/MT+ is reduced when visual space perception is disrupted by masking stimuli. This suggests V5/MT+ plays a key role in accurately localizing visual objects.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Visual Perception
- Cognitive Psychology
Background:
- Visual spatial localization is complex and can be disrupted by brief interruptions in visual processing, such as blinks or masking stimuli.
- Previous research indicated a compression of visual space near masking stimuli during ocular fixation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the neural mechanisms underlying visual spatial displacements observed during masking.
- To determine the role of human motion complex V5/MT+ in spatial localization disruptions.
Main Methods:
- Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) was used to measure brain activity.
- Behavioral experiments assessed perceived stimulus displacement under masking conditions.
Main Results:
- Significant stimulus displacement was behaviorally detected when visual masks were presented simultaneously.
- Decreased activation in human motion complex V5/MT+ correlated with perceived spatial displacements.
- V5/MT+ activation differences were observed even without perceived motion differences.
Conclusions:
- Human motion complex V5/MT+ is involved in the spatial localization of briefly presented visual objects.
- These findings expand the known functions of human V5/MT+ beyond motion processing.
