V1 neurons encode the perceptual compensation of false torsion arising from Listing’s law

Significance Eye movements have three degrees of freedom, the ability to move horizontally, vertically, and torsionally. Eye movements serving the fovea strictly control eye torsion. The amount of torsion associated with a particular eye position is specified by Listing’s law. Because of prior knowledge of the torsion set by Listing’s law, we perceive the world as upright although its retinal image may be tilted by varying degrees. We first show that also monkeys use a torsion prior to ensure a veridical perceptual reinterpretation of image tilt. We then demonstrate that this reinterpretation is a consequence of the fact that V1 neurons use the torsion prior to adjust their orientation preferences and to reposition their receptive fields relative to the retina.