Interneuronal correlations at longer time scales predict decision signals for bistable structure-from-motion perception.

Perceptual decisions are thought to depend on the activation of task-relevant neurons, whose activity is often correlated in time. Here, we examined how the temporal structure of shared variability in neuronal firing relates to perceptual choices. We recorded stimulus-selective neurons from visual a...

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Main Authors: Wasmuht, D, Parker, A, Krug, K
Format: Journal article
Language:English
Published: Nature Research 2019
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author Wasmuht, D
Parker, A
Krug, K
author_facet Wasmuht, D
Parker, A
Krug, K
author_sort Wasmuht, D
collection OXFORD
description Perceptual decisions are thought to depend on the activation of task-relevant neurons, whose activity is often correlated in time. Here, we examined how the temporal structure of shared variability in neuronal firing relates to perceptual choices. We recorded stimulus-selective neurons from visual area V5/MT while two monkeys (Macaca mulatta) made perceptual decisions about the rotation direction of structure-from-motion cylinders. Interneuronal correlations for a perceptually ambiguous cylinder stimulus were significantly higher than those for unambiguous cylinders or for random 2D motion during passive viewing. Much of the difference arose from correlations at relatively long timescales (hundreds of milliseconds). Choice-related neural activity (quantified as choice probability; CP) for ambiguous cylinders was positively correlated with interneuronal correlations and was specifically associated with their long timescale component. Furthermore, the slope of the long timescale - but not the instantaneous - component of the correlation predicted higher CPs towards the end of the trial i.e. close to the decision. Our results suggest that the perceptual stability of structure-from-motion cylinders may be controlled by enhanced interneuronal correlations on longer timescales. We propose this as a potential signature of top-down influences onto V5/MT processing that shape and stabilize the appearance of 3D-motion percepts.
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spelling oxford-uuid:d50a4c1a-43fe-45de-a07b-df23991d5d2f2022-03-27T08:23:07ZInterneuronal correlations at longer time scales predict decision signals for bistable structure-from-motion perception.Journal articlehttp://purl.org/coar/resource_type/c_dcae04bcuuid:d50a4c1a-43fe-45de-a07b-df23991d5d2fEnglishSymplectic Elements at OxfordNature Research2019Wasmuht, DParker, AKrug, KPerceptual decisions are thought to depend on the activation of task-relevant neurons, whose activity is often correlated in time. Here, we examined how the temporal structure of shared variability in neuronal firing relates to perceptual choices. We recorded stimulus-selective neurons from visual area V5/MT while two monkeys (Macaca mulatta) made perceptual decisions about the rotation direction of structure-from-motion cylinders. Interneuronal correlations for a perceptually ambiguous cylinder stimulus were significantly higher than those for unambiguous cylinders or for random 2D motion during passive viewing. Much of the difference arose from correlations at relatively long timescales (hundreds of milliseconds). Choice-related neural activity (quantified as choice probability; CP) for ambiguous cylinders was positively correlated with interneuronal correlations and was specifically associated with their long timescale component. Furthermore, the slope of the long timescale - but not the instantaneous - component of the correlation predicted higher CPs towards the end of the trial i.e. close to the decision. Our results suggest that the perceptual stability of structure-from-motion cylinders may be controlled by enhanced interneuronal correlations on longer timescales. We propose this as a potential signature of top-down influences onto V5/MT processing that shape and stabilize the appearance of 3D-motion percepts.
spellingShingle Wasmuht, D
Parker, A
Krug, K
Interneuronal correlations at longer time scales predict decision signals for bistable structure-from-motion perception.
title Interneuronal correlations at longer time scales predict decision signals for bistable structure-from-motion perception.
title_full Interneuronal correlations at longer time scales predict decision signals for bistable structure-from-motion perception.
title_fullStr Interneuronal correlations at longer time scales predict decision signals for bistable structure-from-motion perception.
title_full_unstemmed Interneuronal correlations at longer time scales predict decision signals for bistable structure-from-motion perception.
title_short Interneuronal correlations at longer time scales predict decision signals for bistable structure-from-motion perception.
title_sort interneuronal correlations at longer time scales predict decision signals for bistable structure from motion perception
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AT krugk interneuronalcorrelationsatlongertimescalespredictdecisionsignalsforbistablestructurefrommotionperception