Distinct information flows for different whole-body actions across LOTC subdivisions

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Cognitive Neuroscience
• Neuroimaging

Background:

• The lateral occipitotemporal cortex (LOTC) is vital for visual perception, including objects and bodies.
• Its precise role in computing body representation and action information, especially concerning emotional expressions, is not fully understood.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the functional subdivisions within the LOTC network.
• To map the distinct connectivity profiles of these subdivisions.
• To understand how these subdivisions process different body-derived emotional expressions.

Main Methods:

• Utilized ultrahigh-field 7 Tesla functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI).
• Employed data-driven analytical approaches to identify body-selective regions.
• Analyzed functional connectivity patterns between LOTC subdivisions and other brain areas.

Main Results:

• Identified four distinct body-selective subdivisions within the LOTC.
• Observed unique connectivity patterns for each subdivision: posterior-ventral to visual cortex, posterior-dorsal to precuneus, anterior to frontal cortex.
• Found differential modulation of connectivity based on emotional expressions: defensive expressions enhanced cingulate cortex connectivity, while aggressive expressions selectively affected frontal gyrus connectivity.

Conclusions:

• The findings challenge classical models of body perception and emotion processing.
• Suggests emotion expression-specific information processing streams within different LOTC subdivisions.
• Highlights the complex role of the LOTC in decoding body language and associated emotional states.