Author : Ting-Yu Chang
Publisher :
ISBN 13 :
Total Pages : 116 pages
Book Rating : 4.:/5 (126 download)
Book Synopsis Perceptual and Neuronal Representations of 3D Surface Orientation by : Ting-Yu Chang
Download or read book Perceptual and Neuronal Representations of 3D Surface Orientation written by Ting-Yu Chang and published by . This book was released on 2021 with total page 116 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Human and non-human primates (NHPs) have the ability to see in three-dimensional (3D) space, allowing for successful navigation and interaction with objects in the environment. The robust (i.e., accurate and precise) 3D visual perception is achieved by the reconstruction of 3D scene information from two-dimensional (2D) retinal projections. However, it remains unclear where in the brain this reconstruction occurs and how the 2D signals were transformed into robust 3D representations. This dissertation assessed perceptual and neuronal representations of 3D vision in macaque monkeys using a planar surface orientation discrimination task with different spatial poses (i.e., orientation and distance). First, I evaluated if NHPs dynamically integrate visual cues for 3D surface orientation perception. The results showed that the perceptual bias was small across the surface poses, whereas sensitivity varied with the pose-dependent reliabilities. The prediction of perceptual sensitivity by an optimal integration model using the cue-isolated data matched the observed sensitivity to combined-cue stimuli. These findings demonstrate that NHPs optimally integrate stereoscopic and perspective cues to achieve robust 3D perception by dynamically reweighting all available information. Second, I evaluated the neural mechanism of dynamic cue reweighting with reliability in the caudal intraparietal (CIP) area. Neuronal responses were recorded using laminar probes while monkeys performed the discrimination task. The results showed that neural responses to combined-cue were well described by the linear weighted summation of the cue-isolated responses. The neural weight ratio between isolated cues was related to the ratio of perceptual sensitivity between the object poses. Finally, I investigated the relationships between the robustness of 3D sensory representations, choice-related activity, and motor-related activity in CIP. The results showed that the neurons with more robust 3D representations preferentially coupled with choice-related activity. Neurons with choice-related activity further increased the robustness of 3D selectivity after the onset of choice activity. Furthermore, I found that the sensorimotor associations between 3D visual representation and saccade-related activity were experience-dependent and stronger for neurons that carried choice-related activity. In sum, these results uncovered a neural basis for visual cue integration as well as systematic links between the high-level sensory representations, choice-related activity, and motor-related activity in CIP.