1.Title: Visual Adaptation and Selective Neuronal Sensitivity

1.Title: Visual adaptation and selective neuronal sensitivity

Abstract: Adaptation is ubiquitous in neural systems. Adaptation to specific properties can be used as evidence for neuronal selectivity. I will present several adaptation studies showing: 1) there is viewpoint specific representation of objects in ventral cortical areas; 2) fMRI adaptation effects depend critically on the duration of the adaptation stimulus; 3) Contingent adaptation occurs for low, intermediate and high level properties; and 4) the visual system is highly and often optimally adaptive.

Suggested reading list:

Fang F, Murray SO, & He S. (2006). Duration-Dependent fMRI Adaptation and Distributed Viewer-Centered Face Representation in Human Visual Cortex. Cerebral Cortex. doi:10.1093/cercor/bhl053

Fang F, Murray SO, Kersten D, He S. (2005). Orientation-tuned FMRI adaptation in human visual cortex. Journal of Neurophysiology. 94(6): 4188-95.

Fang, F. & He, S. (2005). Viewer-Centered Object Representation in the Human Visual System Revealed By Viewpoint Aftereffect. Neuron. 45, 793-800.

Fang, F. & He, S. (2004) Stabilized structure from motion without disparity induces disparity adaptation. Current Biology, 14. 247-251.

2. Title: Processing of invisible visual information

Abstract: Visual information processing involves the continual interplay of the feedforward and feedback flow of information. We used a number of techniques to render images invisible to reduce the influence of feedback processes. Both behavioral and neuroimaging measures support the extensive cortical processing of invisible information (e.g., V1-hV4 response to invisible fused chromatic flicker, dorsal areas' response to invisible tools, STS' response to invisible fearful faces). These studies shed light on what types of neural processes are closely correlated with visual awareness and what types of processes are more independent of awareness states.