Image familiarization sharpens response dynamics of neurons in inferotemporal cortex

Abstract

Repeated viewing of an image over days and weeks induces a marked reduction in the strength with which neurons in monkey inferotemporal cortex respond to it. The processing advantage that attaches to this reduction is unknown. One possibility is that truncation of the response to a familiar image leaves neurons in a state of readiness to respond to ensuing images and thus enhances their ability to track rapidly changing displays. We have explored this possibility by assessing neuronal responses to familiar and novel images in rapid serial visual displays. Inferotemporal neurons respond more strongly to familiar than to novel images in such displays. The effect is stronger among putative inhibitory neurons than among putative excitatory neurons. A comparable effect occurs at the level of the scalp potential in humans. We conclude that long-term familiarization sharpens the response dynamics of neurons in both monkey and human extrastriate visual cortex.

Prediction suppression and surprise enhancement in monkey inferotemporal cortex

“…A trailing image confirming a prediction elicits a relatively weak TE neuronal response 385 whereas a trailing image violating a prediction elicits a relatively strong response ( This is not out of the question because the 407 training regimen used in the present experiment leads to pair-coding at the level of TE: 408 neurons responsive to the leading image tend also to respond to the associated trailing image, 409 as demonstrated both here and in a previous study (Meyer et al 2014b Before finally concluding that prediction suppression occurred, we must consider 417 whether differential firing under the prediction-confirming and prediction-neutral conditions 418 could possibly have arisen from physical differences between the images. One obvious 419 possibility is that images presented under the prediction-neutral condition were physically 420 more salient than those presented under the prediction-confirming condition.…”

Visual recognition memory: a view from V1

“…This contrasts with most experiments interrogating visual recognition memory in which static images are presented or actual objects that can be freely explored. When monkeys viewed similarly dynamic stimuli, in the form of fast sequences of two-dimensional objects, recorded neurons in IT responded more strongly to those they were familiar with than those that were novel [94, 95]. Moreover, enhanced event-related potentials to familiar stimuli were also recorded in human occipital cortex [94].…”

“…When monkeys viewed similarly dynamic stimuli, in the form of fast sequences of two-dimensional objects, recorded neurons in IT responded more strongly to those they were familiar with than those that were novel [94, 95]. Moreover, enhanced event-related potentials to familiar stimuli were also recorded in human occipital cortex [94]. Again, this is an area of work that merits a great deal of further investigation.…”

Statistical Learning of Serial Visual Transitions by Neurons in Monkey Inferotemporal Cortex

“…Furthermore, neurons in ITC exhibit statistical learning. Repeated viewing of a single image leads to familiarity suppression: the experienced image elicits comparatively weak responses (Freedman et al, 2006;Mruczek and Sheinberg, 2007;Meyer and Olson, 2014). Repeated viewing of two images close together in time leads to pair coding: neurons responsive to one image tend to respond to the other (Miyashita, 1988;Erickson and Desimone, 1999;Li and DiCarlo, 2008).…”