Manuscript_Echo_JoN_Final.pdf (964.22 kB)
Visual perceptual echo reflects learning of regularities in rapid luminance sequences
journal contribution
posted on 2023-06-09, 07:00 authored by Acer Y-C Chang, David SchwartzmanDavid Schwartzman, Rufin VanRullen, Ryota Kanai, Anil SethAnil SethA novel neural signature of active visual processing has recently been described in the form of the ‘perceptual echo’, in which the cross-correlation between a sequence of randomly fluctuating luminance values and occipital electrophysiological (EEG) signals exhibits a long-lasting periodic (~100ms cycle) reverberation of the input stimulus (VanRullen & Macdonald, 2012). As yet, however, the mechanisms underlying the perceptual echo and its function remain unknown. Reasoning that natural visual signals often contain temporally predictable, though non-periodic features, we hypothesized that the perceptual echo may reflect a periodic process associated with regularity learning. To test this hypothesis, we presented subjects with successive repetitions of a rapid non-periodic luminance sequence, and examined the effects on the perceptual echo, finding that echo amplitude linearly increased with the number of presentations of a given luminance sequence. These data suggest that the perceptual echo reflects a neural signature of regularity learning. Furthermore, when a set of repeated sequences was followed by a sequence with inverted luminance polarities, the echo amplitude decreased to the same level evoked by a novel stimulus sequence. Crucially, when the original stimulus sequence was re-presented, the echo amplitude returned to a level consistent with the number of presentations of this sequence, indicating that the visual system retained sequence specific information, for many seconds, even in the presence of intervening visual input. Altogether, our results reveal a previously undiscovered regularity learning mechanism within the human visual system, reflected by the perceptual echo.
History
Publication status
- Published
File Version
- Accepted version
Journal
Journal of NeuroscienceISSN
0270-6474Publisher
Society for NeuroscienceExternal DOI
Issue
35Volume
37Page range
8486-8497Department affiliated with
- Informatics Publications
Research groups affiliated with
- Sackler Centre for Consciousness Science Publications
Full text available
- Yes
Peer reviewed?
- Yes
Legacy Posted Date
2017-07-05First Open Access (FOA) Date
2018-03-01First Compliant Deposit (FCD) Date
2017-07-05Usage metrics
Categories
No categories selectedKeywords
Licence
Exports
RefWorks
BibTeX
Ref. manager
Endnote
DataCite
NLM
DC