Cue-triggered activity replay in human early visual cortex

Sci China Life Sci. 2021 Jan;64(1):144-151. doi: 10.1007/s11427-020-1726-5. Epub 2020 Jun 16.

Abstract

The recall of learned temporal sequences by a visual cue is an important form of experience-based neural plasticity. Here we observed such reactivation in awake human visual cortex using intracranial recording. After repeated exposure to a moving dot, a flash of the dot was able to trigger neural reactivation in the downstream receptive field along the motion path. This effect was observed only when the cue appeared near the receptive field. The estimated traveling speed was faster compared to the activation induced by the real motion. We suggest a range-limited, time-compressed reactivation as a result of repeated visual exposure in awake human visual cortex.

Keywords: neural plasticity; replay; sEEG; visual cortex.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Cues*
  • Electroencephalography / methods
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Memory / physiology
  • Motion Perception / physiology*
  • Neural Pathways / physiology
  • Neurons / physiology*
  • Photic Stimulation / methods
  • Psychomotor Performance / physiology
  • Reaction Time / physiology
  • Visual Cortex / physiology*
  • Visual Perception / physiology
  • Wakefulness / physiology*