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Cue competition affects temporal dynamics of edge-assignment in human visual cortex

Brooks, Joseph L, Palmer, Stephen E. (2011) Cue competition affects temporal dynamics of edge-assignment in human visual cortex. Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience, 23 (3). pp. 631-44. ISSN 1530-8898. (doi:10.1162/jocn.2010.21433) (KAR id:29185)

Abstract

Edge-assignment determines the perception of relative depth across an edge and the shape of the closer side. Many cues determine edge-assignment, but relatively little is known about the neural mechanisms involved in combining these cues. Here, we manipulated extremal edge and attention cues to bias edge-assignment such that these two cues either cooperated or competed. To index their neural representations, we flickered figure and ground regions at different frequencies and measured the corresponding steady-state visual-evoked potentials (SSVEPs). Figural regions had stronger SSVEP responses than ground regions, independent of whether they were attended or unattended. In addition, competition and cooperation between the two edge-assignment cues significantly affected the temporal dynamics of edge-assignment processes. The figural SSVEP response peaked earlier when the cues causing it cooperated than when they competed, but sustained edge-assignment effects were equivalent for cooperating and competing cues, consistent with a winner-take-all outcome. These results provide physiological evidence that figure-ground organization involves competitive processes that can affect the latency of figural assignment.

Item Type: Article
DOI/Identification number: 10.1162/jocn.2010.21433
Subjects: B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion
B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > BF Psychology
Divisions: Divisions > Division of Human and Social Sciences > School of Psychology
Depositing User: Joe Brooks
Date Deposited: 29 Mar 2012 00:01 UTC
Last Modified: 16 Nov 2021 10:07 UTC
Resource URI: https://kar.kent.ac.uk/id/eprint/29185 (The current URI for this page, for reference purposes)

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