Visual motion induces a forward prediction of spatial pattern

Cortical motion analysis continuously encodes image velocity but might also be used to predict future patterns of sensory input along the motion path. We asked whether this predictive aspect of motion is exploited by the human visual system. Targets can be more easily detected at the leading as comp...

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Main Authors: Roach, Neil W., McGraw, Paul V., Johnston, Alan
Format: Article
Published: Elsevier (Cell Press) 2011
Online Access:https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/3183/
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author Roach, Neil W.
McGraw, Paul V.
Johnston, Alan
author_facet Roach, Neil W.
McGraw, Paul V.
Johnston, Alan
author_sort Roach, Neil W.
building Nottingham Research Data Repository
collection Online Access
description Cortical motion analysis continuously encodes image velocity but might also be used to predict future patterns of sensory input along the motion path. We asked whether this predictive aspect of motion is exploited by the human visual system. Targets can be more easily detected at the leading as compared to the trailing edge of motion [1], but this effect has been attributed to a nonspecific boost in contrast gain at the leading edge, linked to motion-induced shifts in spatial position [1, 2, 3 and 4]. Here we show that the detectability of a local sinusoidal target presented at the ends of a region containing motion is phase dependent at the leading edge, but not at the trailing edge. These two observations rule out a simple gain control mechanism that modulates contrast energy and passive filtering explanations, respectively. By manipulating the relative orientation of the moving pattern and target, we demonstrate that the resulting spatial variation in detection threshold along the edge closely resembles the superposition of sensory input and an internally generated predicted signal. These findings show that motion induces a forward prediction of spatial pattern that combines with the cortical representation of the future stimulus.
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spelling nottingham-31832020-05-04T16:30:37Z https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/3183/ Visual motion induces a forward prediction of spatial pattern Roach, Neil W. McGraw, Paul V. Johnston, Alan Cortical motion analysis continuously encodes image velocity but might also be used to predict future patterns of sensory input along the motion path. We asked whether this predictive aspect of motion is exploited by the human visual system. Targets can be more easily detected at the leading as compared to the trailing edge of motion [1], but this effect has been attributed to a nonspecific boost in contrast gain at the leading edge, linked to motion-induced shifts in spatial position [1, 2, 3 and 4]. Here we show that the detectability of a local sinusoidal target presented at the ends of a region containing motion is phase dependent at the leading edge, but not at the trailing edge. These two observations rule out a simple gain control mechanism that modulates contrast energy and passive filtering explanations, respectively. By manipulating the relative orientation of the moving pattern and target, we demonstrate that the resulting spatial variation in detection threshold along the edge closely resembles the superposition of sensory input and an internally generated predicted signal. These findings show that motion induces a forward prediction of spatial pattern that combines with the cortical representation of the future stimulus. Elsevier (Cell Press) 2011-05-10 Article PeerReviewed Roach, Neil W., McGraw, Paul V. and Johnston, Alan (2011) Visual motion induces a forward prediction of spatial pattern. Current Biology, 21 (9). pp. 740-745. ISSN 0960-9822 http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0960982211003034 doi:10.1016/j.cub.2011.03.031 doi:10.1016/j.cub.2011.03.031
spellingShingle Roach, Neil W.
McGraw, Paul V.
Johnston, Alan
Visual motion induces a forward prediction of spatial pattern
title Visual motion induces a forward prediction of spatial pattern
title_full Visual motion induces a forward prediction of spatial pattern
title_fullStr Visual motion induces a forward prediction of spatial pattern
title_full_unstemmed Visual motion induces a forward prediction of spatial pattern
title_short Visual motion induces a forward prediction of spatial pattern
title_sort visual motion induces a forward prediction of spatial pattern
url https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/3183/
https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/3183/
https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/3183/