Cerebral Cortex, Vol 7, 758-767, Copyright © 1997 by Oxford University Press
M Missal, R Vogels and GA Orban
We tested whether macaque inferior temporal neurons can signal the presence
of their preferred shape independently of other shapes simultaneously
present, by comparing the responses and selectivity of TE neurons to shapes
(figures), either presented in isolation or overlapping another shape
(background). The two overlapping shapes differed in color or texture and
thus were easily segmentable. We found that the response and selectivity of
TE neurons to the figure can be dramatically altered, most commonly
reduced, when the figure is overlapping the background. This reduction in
response was also present when the monkey was required to actively
discriminate the figures from varying backgrounds during recording. The
level of suppression depended on the shape of the background and on whether
or not figure and background can be discriminated. These results indicate
that responses of TE cells are not only determined by the properties of the
figures but also are influenced by the properties of stimuli in the
background.
ARTICLES
Responses of macaque inferior temporal neurons to overlapping shapes
Laboratorium voor Neuro-en Psychofysiologie, Faculteit Geneeskunde, KULeuven, Belgium.
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