Analogous intermediate shape coding in vision and touch.

Full Abstract

We recognize, understand, and interact with objects through both vision and touch. Conceivably, these two sensory systems encode object shape in similar ways, which could facilitate cross-modal communication. To test this idea, we studied single neurons in macaque monkey intermediate visual (area V4) and somatosensory (area SII) cortex, using matched shape stimuli. We found similar patterns of shape sensitivity characterized by tuning for curvature direction. These parallel tuning patterns imply analogous shape coding mechanisms in intermediate visual and somatosensory cortex.

Author information

Author/s: Yau, Jeffrey M (JM); Pasupathy, Anitha (A); Fitzgerald, Paul J (PJ); Hsiao, Steven S (SS); Connor, Charles E (CE);

Affiliation: Zanvyl Krieger Mind/Brain Institute and Solomon H. Snyder Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins University, 3400 North Charles Street, Baltimore, MD 21218, USA.

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Journal Article; Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

Journal: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America (Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A), published in United States. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2009-Sep; vol 106 (issue 38) : pp 16457-62

Dates: Created 2009/10/06; Completed 2009/11/06;

PMID: 19805320, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 11/6/2009, IMS Date: )

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