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Motion sensitive cells in the macaque superior temporal polysensory area: response discrimination between
1School of Psychology, University of St. Andrews, Scotland, UK.
Behavioural Brain Research
|April 1, 1996
Summary
Neurons in the superior temporal sulcus (STP) of monkeys show stronger responses to external visual motion than self-generated motion. This suggests a flexible mechanism in the brain for distinguishing self-produced visual stimuli.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Primate Vision
- Sensory Processing
Background:
- Neurons in the anterior dorsal superior temporal sulcus (STP) of monkeys are sensitive to visual movement.
- Previous studies indicated these neurons respond to external motion but not self-limb movement.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate how STP neurons discriminate between externally-generated and self-generated visual motion.
- To determine if this discrimination is based on stimulus form or learned associations.
Main Methods:
- Monkeys were trained to control a visual stimulus apparatus.
- Single unit responses from STP neurons were recorded.
- Responses to experimenter- vs. self-induced visual motion were compared.
Main Results:
- The majority of movement-sensitive STP cells responded more strongly to experimenter-induced motion.
- Cell responses were unaffected by motion velocity or motor activity alone.
- Discrimination was independent of stimulus form.
Conclusions:
- STP neurons can distinguish between externally and self-generated visual motion.
- The underlying neural mechanism is plastic and can adapt to arbitrary learned associations between movement and visual consequences.