A comparison of primate prefrontal and inferior temporal cortices during visual categorization

J Neurosci. 2003 Jun 15;23(12):5235-46. doi: 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.23-12-05235.2003.

Abstract

Previous studies have suggested that both the prefrontal cortex (PFC) and inferior temporal cortex (ITC) are involved in high-level visual processing and categorization, but their respective roles are not known. To address this, we trained monkeys to categorize a continuous set of visual stimuli into two categories, "cats" and "dogs." The stimuli were parametrically generated using a computer graphics morphing system (Sheltonelton, 2000) that allowed precise control over stimulus shape. After training, we recorded neural activity from the PFC and the ITC of monkeys while they performed a category-matching task. We found that the PFC and the ITC play distinct roles in category-based behaviors: the ITC seems more involved in the analysis of currently viewed shapes, whereas the PFC showed stronger category signals, memory effects, and a greater tendency to encode information in terms of its behavioral meaning.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Analysis of Variance
  • Animals
  • Behavior, Animal / physiology
  • Brain Mapping
  • Cats
  • Dogs
  • Electrodes, Implanted
  • Electrophysiology
  • Eye Movements / physiology
  • Female
  • Fixation, Ocular / physiology
  • Image Processing, Computer-Assisted
  • Macaca mulatta
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • Neurons / physiology
  • Pattern Recognition, Visual / physiology
  • Photic Stimulation / methods
  • Prefrontal Cortex / physiology*
  • ROC Curve
  • Reaction Time / physiology
  • Recognition, Psychology / physiology
  • Reward
  • Temporal Lobe / physiology*
  • Visual Perception / physiology*