Open AccessShape‐selective stereo processing in human object‐related visual areas
Author(s) -
GilaieDotan Sharon,
Ullman Shimon,
Kushnir Tammar,
Malach Rafael
Publication year - 2002
Publication title -
human brain mapping
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.005
H-Index - 191
eISSN - 1097-0193
pISSN - 1065-9471
DOI - 10.1002/hbm.10008
Subject(s) - computer vision , artificial intelligence , cognitive neuroscience of visual object recognition , stereoscopy , luminance , functional magnetic resonance imaging , perception , object (grammar) , binocular disparity , visual cortex , depth perception , communication , computer science , psychology , pattern recognition (psychology) , neuroscience
Abstract Object related areas in the human ventral stream were previously shown to be activated, in a shape‐selective manner, by luminance, motion, and texture cues. We report on the preferential activation of these areas by stereo cues defining shape. To assess the relationship of this activation to object recognition, we employed a perceptual stereo effect, which profoundly affects object recognition. The stimuli consisted of stereo‐defined line drawings of objects that either protruded in front of a flat background (“front”), or were sunk into the background (“back”). Despite the similarity in the local feature structure of the two conditions, object recognition was superior in the “front” compared to the “back” configuration. We measured both recognition rates and fMRI signal from the human visual cortex while subjects viewed these stimuli. The results reveal shape selective activation from images of objects defined purely by stereoscopic cues in the human ventral stream. Furthermore, they show a significant correlation between recognition and fMRI signal in the object‐related occipito‐temporal cortex (lateral occipital complex). Hum. Brain Mapping 15:67–79, 2001. © 2001 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.