Topography of Visual Features in the Human Ventral Visual Pathway

Shijia FAN; Xiaosha WANG; Xiaoying WANG; Tao WEI; Yanchao BI; Shijia FAN; Xiaosha WANG; Xiaoying WANG; Tao WEI; Yanchao BI; Yanchao BI

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Topography of Visual Features in the Human Ventral Visual Pathway

Author: Shijia FAN ¹ ; Xiaosha WANG ¹ ; Xiaoying WANG ¹ ; Tao WEI ¹ ; Yanchao BI ¹ ; Shijia FAN ² ; Xiaosha WANG ² ; Xiaoying WANG ² ; Tao WEI ² ; Yanchao BI ² ; Yanchao BI ³
Author Information

1. State Key Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience and Learning, and IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Beijing Normal University
2. Beijing Key Laboratory of Brain Imaging and Connectomics, Beijing Normal University
3. Chinese Institute for Brain Research
Publication Type:Journal Article
Keywords: Computational vision model; Domain organization; Response mapping; Ventral occipital temporal cortex
From: Neuroscience Bulletin 2021;37(10):1454-1468
CountryChina
Language:Chinese
Abstract: Visual object recognition in humans and nonhuman primates is achieved by the ventral visual pathway (ventral occipital-temporal cortex, VOTC), which shows a well-documented object domain structure. An on-going question is what type of information is processed in the higher-order VOTC that underlies such observations, with recent evidence suggesting effects of certain visual features. Combining computational vision models, fMRI experiment using a parametric-modulation approach, and natural image statistics of common objects, we depicted the neural distribution of a comprehensive set of visual features in the VOTC, identifying voxel sensitivities with specific feature sets across geometry/shape, Fourier power, and color. The visual feature combination pattern in the VOTC is significantly explained by their relationships to different types of response-action computation (fight-or-flight, navigation, and manipulation), as derived from behavioral ratings and natural image statistics. These results offer a comprehensive visual feature map in the VOTC and a plausible theoretical explanation as a mapping onto different types of downstream response-action systems.