Cue Competition Affects Temporal Dynamics of Edge-assignment in Human Visual Cortex

Brooks

Abstract

Edge-assignment determines the perception of relative depth across an edge and the shape of the closer side. Many cues determine edge-assignment, but relatively little is known about the neural mechanisms involved in combining these cues. Here, we manipulated extremal edge and attention cues to bias edge-assignment such that these two cues either cooperated or competed. To index their neural representations, we flickered figure and ground regions at different frequencies and measured the corresponding steady-state visual-evoked potentials (SSVEPs). Figural regions had stronger SSVEP responses than ground regions, independent of whether they were attended or unattended. In addition, competition and cooperation between the two edge-assignment cues significantly affected the temporal dynamics of edge-assignment processes. The figural SSVEP response peaked earlier when the cues causing it cooperated than when they competed, but sustained edge-assignment effects were equivalent for cooperating and competing cues, consistent with a winner-take-all outcome. These results provide physiological evidence that figure–ground organization involves competitive processes that can affect the latency of figural assignment.

Citation

Brooks. (2011). Cue Competition Affects Temporal Dynamics of Edge-assignment in Human Visual Cortex. Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience, 631 - 644. https://doi.org/10.1162/jocn.2010.21433

• Acceptance Date: Dec 9, 2011
• Publication Date: Dec 9, 2011
• Journal: Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience
• Print ISSN: 0898-929X
• Publisher: Massachusetts Institute of Technology Press
• Pages: 631 - 644
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1162/jocn.2010.21433
• Publisher URL: https://doi.org/10.1162/jocn.2010.21433