Articles tagged with Visual Cortex
A new review article synthesizes information on neural traveling waves, concluding they are a computational engine in the visual cortex. These waves allow the brain to build internal representations of the external world, enabling prediction and perception.
Researchers studied how hibernation affects the visual brain of squirrels, finding that certain neurons undergo quick structural changes during deep sleep and arousal stages. These changes reverse within hours after waking and have no lasting effects on neuron structure six months after hibernation.
A research team led by LEE Doyun and KIM Yee-Joon found that the primary visual cortex encodes motion summaries and variability before higher brain regions transform them into category signals. This process, known as ensemble perception, allows the brain to capture the overall structure of a scene at a glance.
Researchers identified new neurons that respond to different spatial frequencies, allowing for more precise object recognition, and used digital twins to confirm the findings in mouse brains.
Researchers have developed a smaller and simpler AI model that accurately predicts neural responses to visual stimuli in macaque brains. The compact model reveals unique neuron preferences for features like edges and colors, shedding light on how the brain processes information.
Researchers used machine learning techniques to compress a large model of the visual cortex, creating smaller versions that predict neural responses with high accuracy. The compact models revealed specific computational patterns in how neurons detect important features, offering insights into how visual information is processed.
A blind patient partially recovered natural vision through electrical stimulation of the visual cortex, independent of the implant. The recovery was sustained over time and remained even after the device was removed, suggesting individual factors may have contributed to this outcome.
A new MIT study reveals that somatostatin-expressing neurons follow a unique trajectory when forming connections in the visual cortex, establishing conditions needed for sensory refinement. These inhibitory neurons help usher in the critical period by setting baseline inhibition levels.
Spanish researchers at UMH have developed a new generation of visual neuroprosthesis capable of bidirectional communication with the cerebral cortex. The system uses a small external camera to capture images, which are processed electronically and converted into electrical stimulation patterns sent to the occipital cortex. Participants...
Researchers found that approach-avoidance behavior modulates facial expression recognition, with participants perceiving angry faces more when avoiding the face. This study contributes to understanding the reciprocal relationship between perception and action in social contexts.
Researchers used ultraflexible probes to track neurons in the visual cortex of mice for 15 consecutive days, revealing that millisecond rhythms explain how the brain maintains a stable picture of the world. The findings provide new insights for brain-computer interfaces, sensory prostheses and therapies for neurological disease.
Researchers developed a simplified model to explain visual processing in the primary visual cortex, achieving 75% accuracy with fewer layers. The 'minimodels' for individual neurons are just as powerful as large models, providing an accurate and interpretable way to study visual computation.
Researchers discovered that exploring environments can encode visual features, speeding up learning when tasks arise. The study found that unsupervised learning occurs even without specific goals or tasks.
A study from Rockefeller University's Charles D. Gilbert lab found that prior experience plays a crucial role in object recognition, allowing neurons to adapt and respond to complex visual stimuli. This countercurrent stream of 'top-down' information enables neurons to update their responsiveness moment-to-moment.
Researchers at LMU Munich have shown that the brain processes natural visual stimuli with dedicated oscillatory bursts in the visual neocortex. The study, published in Neuron, demonstrates how distinct image properties elicit distinct oscillations in a specific visual circuit.
Researchers found that the brain prioritizes more important items, representing them with higher precision and lower resolution for less important ones. The frontal cortex communicates with the visual cortex to decide which item receives more working memory resources.
Researchers have discovered that the thalamus can update its own connections independently of the cortex, a finding relevant to children with neurodevelopmental disorders. This breakthrough suggests that modulating neurotransmitters in the thalamus could alter sensory processing and improve cognitive function.
A study by Dr. LEE Seung-Hee reveals how the brain dynamically adjusts sensory input prioritization depending on movement, with vision taking priority for navigation. The posterior parietal cortex and secondary motor cortex play key roles in this process.
Researchers have discovered column-like structures in the visual cortex of mice, where neurons processing stimuli from the same eye form clusters. This finding sheds light on the structural organization of the brain and may help solve the mystery of cortical columns' function.
Researchers at Sainsbury Wellcome Centre develop novel experimental setup called Translocator, isolating fundamental elements of locomotion and motion-source separation. The team finds that individual cells in primary visual cortex use motor and vestibular signals to determine visual flow origin.
Researchers mapped the precise brain mechanisms that enable animals to overcome instinctive fears, revealing two key components in this learning process. The study found that a brain structure called the ventrolateral geniculate nucleus (vLGN) stores learning-induced memories and is triggered by the release of endocannabinoids.
A recent study reveals that rats' visual recognition abilities are extremely efficient and adaptable, even outperforming advances in artificial intelligence. Rats employ more flexible image processing strategies than CNNs, which could inspire new approaches to AI model development.
A team led by University of Rochester professor Edmund Lalor aims to understand how the brain processes audiovisual information to improve speech comprehension for individuals with cochlear implants. They will use noninvasive electroencephalography (EEG) brainwave measurements to study how people respond to multisensory speech.
Two studies reveal complex and flexible visual information processing in the brain's cortex and thalamus. Researchers identified pathways that selectively channel visual signals to targeted areas or broadcast information broadly across multiple regions.
Researchers at the University of Tokyo discover that the patterns of spontaneous activity and stimulus-evoked response are similar in lower visual areas of the cerebral cortex but gradually become independent as one moves to higher visual areas. This orthogonal relationship helps explain how sensory perception remains stable despite co...
Researchers at MIT have discovered additional brain pathways that modulate dopamine release, influencing movement and emotional decisions. The newly identified pathways appear to relay emotional information that helps shape motivation to take action.
Brain cells called OPCs (oligodendrocyte precursor cells) play a crucial role in shaping neural circuitry by pruning unnecessary synapses. This process is essential for the brain's functioning and has been linked to both glioma brain cancer and Alzheimer's disease.
Researchers have found a new brain mechanism that detects prediction errors between expected and actual sensory inputs, boosting responses to unexpected information. This discovery could offer insights into the neural circuits underlying autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) and schizophrenia spectrum disorders (SSDs).
A study published in Neuron reveals that neurons are wired to connect seemingly unrelated concepts, enhancing the brain's ability to predict what we see based on past experiences. Visual experience influences the organisation of feedback projections, which store information about the world.
A study by Georgetown University neuroscientists reveals that the primary visual cortex develops a unique connectivity pattern in people born blind, stable over time and distinct from individuals who can see. This finding has profound implications for understanding brain development and may help launch personalized rehabilitation and s...
A new study from the University of Washington suggests that cortical implants like Blindsight, developed by Neuralink, will not provide high-resolution vision. Instead, researchers found that a single electrode stimulates only one neuron, and image sharpness is determined by thousands of neurons in the brain.
A new study from University of Florida researchers found that quick learners rely on the visual cortex in their brains when acquiring new motor skills. The study used brain-monitoring electrodes to analyze how people learn to walk at different speeds, revealing a clear difference between fast and slow learners.
Researchers at NIH have identified a new brain circuit in primates that quickly detects faces, which could help explain how humans develop facial recognition skills. The discovery sheds light on the neural mechanisms underlying face detection and recognition, potentially providing insights into conditions like autism.
Researchers have used BARseq to map the brains of nine mice, tracing gene expression in the visual cortex. The results show that losing vision leads to changes in gene expression across neighboring cortical areas, highlighting the complex connections between brain regions.
A new IU study reveals that young infants' daily-life input is unique to their age, characterized by high-contrast edges and simple patterns, which serve as a foundation for human vision. This finding has implications for addressing lifelong visual deficiencies and improving AI visual systems.
Researchers created an ultra-small vision implant with single-neuron sized electrodes, allowing for thousands of 'pixels' to be stimulated simultaneously. The implant's unique combination of flexible materials ensures long-term functionality and stability.
Aging brains exhibit reduced selectivity for both category and individual items, suggesting multiple mechanisms drive age-related neural dedifferentiation. This finding may lead to a reevaluation of age-related neural processes and their relationship with memory performance.
A study published in Nature tracked neural activity of freely moving macaques using wireless eye tracking and neural monitoring. The research found that the visual cortex plays an active role in social behavior by providing signals to the prefrontal cortex, enabling the decision to cooperate.
The study reveals that the superior colliculus is vital in the transition from seeing individual flashes to smooth motion, and may be a key component in creating the continuity illusion. Different methods of measuring the Flicker Fusion Frequency threshold suggest other parts of the brain also play a role in this process.
A study in mice suggests that daydreams can shape the brain's future response to what it sees. Researchers found that patterns of activity during a mouse's first few daydreams predicted how the brain would respond to an image later, indicating a potential causal relationship between daydreaming and brain plasticity.
A team of researchers, including York University, used a mouse model to test how the brain learns new sensory input patterns. They found that the brain's response to image patterns that violate expectations evolves differently over time, suggesting a distinct role in sensory learning.
Researchers argue that the brain does not create new functions in previously unrelated areas but instead utilizes existing latent capacities. They provide alternative explanations for observed changes in brain activity following injury or deficit.
A new study by Anglia Ruskin University and University of Oxford highlights the lack of clinical research on severe sight impairment (SSI) among working-age individuals in the UK. The study finds that inherited retinal disorders, such as IRDs, are under-researched despite being a leading cause of SSI certifications in this population.
A new study resolves a long-standing contradiction in brain function by revealing that familiar stimuli trigger brief neural spikes, known as visually evoked potentials (VEPs), which suppress activity. The findings advance understanding of visual recognition memory, enabling prioritization of attention.
Scientists have identified a region of the brain where sustained visual images are retained during perception. This finding may help doctors determine whether coma patients are still aware of their surroundings and could lead to treatments for disorders of consciousness.
A study found that bilingual readers process Latin and Chinese characters in different ways due to the formation of specialized cortical areas within the Visual Word Form Area (VWFA). In English-Chinese bilinguals, areas were only stimulated by recognition of Chinese logograms, while English-French bilinguals showed equal activation fo...
A study by Karolinska Institutet found that blind individuals have a heightened ability to sense signals from their inner body, with an average accuracy of 0.78 for counting heartbeats. This enhanced sensitivity may also impact emotional processing and perception.
Researchers discovered that neurons in the deepest part of the neocortex exhibit sensory responses and experience-dependent plasticity. The study found that these cells, known as L6b/surviving subplate neurons, play a role in the maturation of cortical functions.
Kyoto University researchers have created a map comparing circuit structure with neural activity in mammals, revealing a new mechanism behind visual cortex activities. This discovery sheds light on the hidden connections between neurons and could provide directions for constructing power-efficient deep neural networks.
Researchers mapped every thalamic synapse on 15 neurons in layer 2/3 of the visual cortex in mice and found that despite being weak and sparse, they are reliable and efficient representatives of information. The diversity of thalamic inputs underlies these advantages, allowing a small population of neurons to assemble the overall picture.
Researchers successfully transplanted human brain organoids into adult rat brains and observed functional integration, including response to visual stimulation. The study demonstrates potential for neural tissues to rebuild injured brain areas.
Researchers identified structural changes in the thalamus and strengthened connections with the temporal cortex, enabling visual cortex activation through non-visual stimuli.
A new study suggests that the brain's ability to identify a voice is linked to its ability to recognize faces, with a common brain center processing both visual and auditory information. This finding has important implications for understanding disorders where voice or face recognition is compromised.
A new study from Duke University finds that single neurons in the visual cortex rapidly switch between reporting on two separate objects by alternating signals. When objects overlap, brain cells treat them as a single entity, suggesting a more complex encoding process for everyday perception.
Researchers trained a mouse brain model to solve visual tasks, achieving superior robustness and performance compared to traditional neural networks. The model's unique coding properties enable it to cope with errors and unexpected input, making it a promising tool for advances in neuromorphic computing.
Researchers at WashU Medicine identified a visual pathway in mice brains that is activated when animals see others scratching, triggering a reflex response. This discovery advances understanding of itching triggers and may point to solutions for itch-related conditions in humans.
Researchers in Cell Reports study neuronal responses to bright and dark surfaces, finding that large bright surfaces activate both light-ON and light-OFF neurons, increasing the combined response with surface brightness and size. This challenges the long-standing assumption that only surface edges drive strong cortical responses.
Neuroscientists at Sainsbury Wellcome Centre discovered that individual neurons in the visual cortex of mice are modulated separately by attention and running. The study found that spatial attention and running influence neurons independently, with different dynamics.
A study from MIT neuroscientists has identified a population of neurons in the visual cortex that respond to images of food. The researchers found four previously known populations and a fifth, more surprising population that appears to be selective for food images. This finding may reflect the special importance of food in human culture.
Inhibitory and excitatory neuronal circuits develop through different processes, with inhibitory neurons requiring visual experience to form mature functional maps. This discovery sheds light on the importance of continued study of inhibitory neural development and its connection to neurodevelopmental disorders.