Integration of local features to a global percept by neural coupling
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Integration of local features to a global percept by neural coupling. / Rose, Michael; Sommer-Blöchl, Tobias; Büchel, Christian.
In: CEREB CORTEX, Vol. 16, No. 10, 10.2006, p. 1522-8.Research output: SCORING: Contribution to journal › SCORING: Journal article › Research › peer-review
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TY - JOUR
T1 - Integration of local features to a global percept by neural coupling
AU - Rose, Michael
AU - Sommer-Blöchl, Tobias
AU - Büchel, Christian
PY - 2006/10
Y1 - 2006/10
N2 - The integration of different visual attributes into the percept of a single global shape is a central aspect of object processing. In hierarchically organized stimuli with local and global levels, the attentional focus largely determines which level is processed. Here we tested the hypothesis that object processing during attention to the global aspect of the stimulus is characterized by an increased neural coupling between visual areas reflecting the integration of local features. In the present experiment, we used global letters that were constructed by smaller local letters, and a cue signaled which spatial level should be identified. On the local level, only 1 relevant letter was presented laterally in 1 visual hemifield. In contrast, the global letter extended into both hemifields, and the integration of information from both hemispheres was necessary to identify the global stimulus. Therefore, we expected an increased functional coupling between hemispheres during global processing. This hypothesis was investigated using electroencephalographic recordings and an analysis of phase locking and coherence. The results show that stimulus-locked neural coupling within the gamma band (30-40 Hz) across hemispheres in visual cortex increased for global processing after stimulus presentation and could therefore reflect the integration of local visual information.
AB - The integration of different visual attributes into the percept of a single global shape is a central aspect of object processing. In hierarchically organized stimuli with local and global levels, the attentional focus largely determines which level is processed. Here we tested the hypothesis that object processing during attention to the global aspect of the stimulus is characterized by an increased neural coupling between visual areas reflecting the integration of local features. In the present experiment, we used global letters that were constructed by smaller local letters, and a cue signaled which spatial level should be identified. On the local level, only 1 relevant letter was presented laterally in 1 visual hemifield. In contrast, the global letter extended into both hemifields, and the integration of information from both hemispheres was necessary to identify the global stimulus. Therefore, we expected an increased functional coupling between hemispheres during global processing. This hypothesis was investigated using electroencephalographic recordings and an analysis of phase locking and coherence. The results show that stimulus-locked neural coupling within the gamma band (30-40 Hz) across hemispheres in visual cortex increased for global processing after stimulus presentation and could therefore reflect the integration of local visual information.
KW - Adult
KW - Attention
KW - Brain Mapping
KW - Female
KW - Humans
KW - Male
KW - Pattern Recognition, Visual
KW - Visual Cortex
KW - Visual Pathways
KW - Visual Perception
U2 - 10.1093/cercor/bhj089
DO - 10.1093/cercor/bhj089
M3 - SCORING: Journal article
C2 - 16339083
VL - 16
SP - 1522
EP - 1528
JO - CEREB CORTEX
JF - CEREB CORTEX
SN - 1047-3211
IS - 10
ER -
