Dynamics of perceptual decisions about symmetry in visual cortex

Neuroimaging studies have identified multiple extra-striate visual areas that are sensitive to symmetry in planar images (Kohler et al., 2016; Sasaki et al., 2005). Here, we investigated which of these areas are directly involved in perceptual decisions about symmetry, by recording high-density EEG...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:NeuroImage (Orlando, Fla.) Fla.), 2018-02, Vol.167, p.316-330
Main Authors: Kohler, Peter J., Cottereau, Benoit R., Norcia, Anthony M.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Cognitive science
Decision making
EEG
Electroencephalography
Functional magnetic resonance imaging
Medical imaging
Neuroimaging
Neuroscience
Occipital lobe
Rotation
Studies
Symmetry
Temporal dynamics
Topography
Visual cortex
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Summary:Neuroimaging studies have identified multiple extra-striate visual areas that are sensitive to symmetry in planar images (Kohler et al., 2016; Sasaki et al., 2005). Here, we investigated which of these areas are directly involved in perceptual decisions about symmetry, by recording high-density EEG in participants (n = 25) who made rapid judgments about whether an exemplar image contained rotation symmetry or not. Stimulus-locked sensor-level analysis revealed symmetry-specific activity that increased with increasing order of rotation symmetry. Response-locked analysis identified activity occurring between 600 and 200 ms before the button-press, that was directly related to perceptual decision making. We then used fMRI-informed EEG source imaging to characterize the dynamics of symmetry-specific activity within an extended network of areas in visual cortex. The most consistent cortical source of the stimulus-locked activity was VO1, a topographically organized area in ventral visual cortex, that was highly sensitive to symmetry in a previous study (Kohler et al., 2016). Importantly, VO1 activity also contained a strong decision-related component, suggesting that this area plays a crucial role in perceptual decisions about symmetry. Other candidate areas, such as lateral occipital cortex, had weak stimulus-locked symmetry responses and no evidence of correlation with response timing.
ISSN:1053-8119
1095-9572
DOI:10.1016/j.neuroimage.2017.11.051