Cortical BOLD responses to moderate – and high- speed motion in the human visual cortex

Anno: 2018

Autori: Mikellidou K., Frijia F., Montanaro D., Greco V., Burr D. C., Morrone M. C.

Affiliazione autori: Department of Translational Research on New Technologies in Medicine and Surgery, University of Pisa, Pisa,
Italy; Unit of Neuroradiology, Fondazione CNR/Regione Toscana G. Monasterio, Pisa, Italy; Istituto Nazionale di
Ottica, CNR, Florence, Italy; Department of Neuroscience, Psychology, Pharmacology and Child Health, University
of Florence, Florence, Italy; Neuroscience Institute, CNR, Pisa, Italy; Stella Maris Scientific Institute, Pisa, Italy

Abstract: We investigated the BOLD response of visual cortical and sub-cortical regions to fast drifting motion presented over wide fields, including the far periphery. Stimuli were sinusoidal gratings of 50% contrast moving at moderate and very high speeds (38 and 570 °/s), projected to a large field of view (~60°). Both stimuli generated strong and balanced responses in the lateral geniculate nucleus and the superior colliculus. In visual cortical areas, responses were evaluated at three different eccentricities: central 0–15°; peripheral 20–30°; and extreme peripheral 30–60°. “Ventral stream” areas (V2, V3, V4) preferred moderate-speeds in the central visual field, while motion area MT+ responded equally well to both speeds at all eccentricities. In all other areas and eccentricities BOLD responses were significant and equally strong for both types of moving stimuli. Support vector machine showed that the direction of the fast-speed motion could be successfully decoded from the BOLD response in all visual areas, suggesting that responses are mediated by motion mechanisms rather than being an unspecific preference for fast rate of flicker. The results show that the visual cortex responds to very fast motion, at speeds generated when we move our eyes rapidly, or when moving objects pass by closely.

Giornale/Rivista: SCIENTIFIC REPORTS

Volume: 8      Da Pagina: 8357-1  A: 8357-12

Parole chiavi: Visual cortical and sub-cortical region
DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-26507-0

Citazioni: 8
dati da “WEB OF SCIENCE” (of Thomson Reuters) aggiornati al: 2024-03-24
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