Dynamic dot displays reveal material motion network in the human brain
There is growing research interest in the neural mechanisms underlying the recognition of material categories and properties. This research field, however, is relatively more recent and limited compared to investigations of the neural mechanisms underlying object and scene category recognition. Moti...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2021-03-01
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| Series: | NeuroImage |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1053811920311733 |
| _version_ | 1818870594359263232 |
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| author | Alexandra C. Schmid Huseyin Boyaci Katja Doerschner |
| author_facet | Alexandra C. Schmid Huseyin Boyaci Katja Doerschner |
| author_sort | Alexandra C. Schmid |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | There is growing research interest in the neural mechanisms underlying the recognition of material categories and properties. This research field, however, is relatively more recent and limited compared to investigations of the neural mechanisms underlying object and scene category recognition. Motion is particularly important for the perception of non-rigid materials, but the neural basis of non-rigid material motion remains unexplored. Using fMRI, we investigated which brain regions respond preferentially to material motion versus other types of motion. We introduce a new database of stimuli – dynamic dot materials – that are animations of moving dots that induce vivid percepts of various materials in motion, e.g. flapping cloth, liquid waves, wobbling jelly. Control stimuli were scrambled versions of these same animations and rigid three-dimensional rotating dots. Results showed that isolating material motion properties with dynamic dots (in contrast with other kinds of motion) activates a network of cortical regions in both ventral and dorsal visual pathways, including areas normally associated with the processing of surface properties and shape, and extending to somatosensory and premotor cortices. We suggest that such a widespread preference for material motion is due to strong associations between stimulus properties. For example viewing dots moving in a specific pattern not only elicits percepts of material motion; one perceives a flexible, non-rigid shape, identifies the object as a cloth flapping in the wind, infers the object's weight under gravity, and anticipates how it would feel to reach out and touch the material. These results are a first important step in mapping out the cortical architecture and dynamics in material-related motion processing. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-19T12:09:30Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-3e7e2c190ba64a449791b2cda3aeaf37 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1095-9572 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-19T12:09:30Z |
| publishDate | 2021-03-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | NeuroImage |
| spelling | doaj.art-3e7e2c190ba64a449791b2cda3aeaf372022-12-21T20:22:15ZengElsevierNeuroImage1095-95722021-03-01228117688Dynamic dot displays reveal material motion network in the human brainAlexandra C. Schmid0Huseyin Boyaci1Katja Doerschner2Department of Psychology, Justus Liebig University Giessen, Giessen 35394, Germany; Corresponding author at: Laboratory of Brain and Cognition, National Institute of Mental Health, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USADepartment of Psychology, Justus Liebig University Giessen, Giessen 35394, Germany; Department of Psychology, A.S. Brain Research Center, and National Magnetic Resonance Research Center (UMRAM), Bilkent University, Ankara 06800, TurkeyDepartment of Psychology, Justus Liebig University Giessen, Giessen 35394, Germany; Department of Psychology, A.S. Brain Research Center, and National Magnetic Resonance Research Center (UMRAM), Bilkent University, Ankara 06800, TurkeyThere is growing research interest in the neural mechanisms underlying the recognition of material categories and properties. This research field, however, is relatively more recent and limited compared to investigations of the neural mechanisms underlying object and scene category recognition. Motion is particularly important for the perception of non-rigid materials, but the neural basis of non-rigid material motion remains unexplored. Using fMRI, we investigated which brain regions respond preferentially to material motion versus other types of motion. We introduce a new database of stimuli – dynamic dot materials – that are animations of moving dots that induce vivid percepts of various materials in motion, e.g. flapping cloth, liquid waves, wobbling jelly. Control stimuli were scrambled versions of these same animations and rigid three-dimensional rotating dots. Results showed that isolating material motion properties with dynamic dots (in contrast with other kinds of motion) activates a network of cortical regions in both ventral and dorsal visual pathways, including areas normally associated with the processing of surface properties and shape, and extending to somatosensory and premotor cortices. We suggest that such a widespread preference for material motion is due to strong associations between stimulus properties. For example viewing dots moving in a specific pattern not only elicits percepts of material motion; one perceives a flexible, non-rigid shape, identifies the object as a cloth flapping in the wind, infers the object's weight under gravity, and anticipates how it would feel to reach out and touch the material. These results are a first important step in mapping out the cortical architecture and dynamics in material-related motion processing.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1053811920311733Material perceptionMotion, fMRIPoint-light motionDynamic dotStructure from motion |
| spellingShingle | Alexandra C. Schmid Huseyin Boyaci Katja Doerschner Dynamic dot displays reveal material motion network in the human brain NeuroImage Material perception Motion, fMRI Point-light motion Dynamic dot Structure from motion |
| title | Dynamic dot displays reveal material motion network in the human brain |
| title_full | Dynamic dot displays reveal material motion network in the human brain |
| title_fullStr | Dynamic dot displays reveal material motion network in the human brain |
| title_full_unstemmed | Dynamic dot displays reveal material motion network in the human brain |
| title_short | Dynamic dot displays reveal material motion network in the human brain |
| title_sort | dynamic dot displays reveal material motion network in the human brain |
| topic | Material perception Motion, fMRI Point-light motion Dynamic dot Structure from motion |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1053811920311733 |
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