Neural correlates of state- and strength-based perception

J Cogn Neurosci. 2014 Apr;26(4):792-809. doi: 10.1162/jocn_a_00532. Epub 2013 Nov 27.

Abstract

Perceptual judgments can be based on two kinds of information: state-based perception of specific, detailed visual information, or strength-based perception of global or relational information. State-based perception is discrete in the sense that it either occurs or fails, whereas strength-based perception is continuously graded from weak to strong. The functional characteristics of these types of perception have been examined in some detail, but whether state- and strength-based perception are supported by different brain regions has been largely unexplored. A consideration of empirical work and recent theoretical proposals suggests that parietal and occipito-temporal regions may be differentially associated with state- and strength-based signals, respectively. We tested this parietal/occipito-temporal state/strength hypothesis using fMRI and a visual perception task that allows separation of state- and strength-based perception. Participants made same/different judgments on pairs of faces and scenes using a 6-point confidence scale where "6" responses indicated a state of perceiving specific details that had changed, and "1" to "5" responses indicated judgments based on varying strength of relational match/mismatch. Regions in the lateral and medial posterior parietal cortex (supramarginal gyrus, posterior cingulate cortex, and precuneus) were sensitive to state-based perception and were not modulated by varying levels of strength-based perception. In contrast, bilateral fusiform gyrus activation was increased for strength-based "different" responses compared with misses and did not show state-based effects. Finally, the lateral occipital complex showed increased activation for state-based responses and additionally showed graded activation across levels of strength-based perception. These results offer support for a state/strength distinction between parietal and temporal regions, with the lateral occipital complex at the intersection of state- and strength-based processing.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Brain Mapping
  • Face
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Judgment / physiology*
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • Male
  • Neuropsychological Tests
  • Occipital Lobe / physiology*
  • Parietal Lobe / physiology*
  • Photic Stimulation
  • Reaction Time
  • Recognition, Psychology
  • Task Performance and Analysis
  • Temporal Lobe / physiology*
  • Visual Perception*