Neural correlates of spatial frequency processing: A neuropsychological approach

Brain Res. 2006 Feb 16:1073-1074:1-10. doi: 10.1016/j.brainres.2005.12.051. Epub 2006 Jan 27.

Abstract

We examined the neural correlates of spatial frequency (SF) processing through a gender and neuropsychological approach, using a recognition task of filtered (either in low spatial frequencies/LSF or high spatial frequencies/HSF) natural scene images. Experiment 1 provides evidence for hemispheric specialization in SF processing in men (the right hemisphere is predominantly involved in LSF analysis and the left in HSF analysis) but not in women. Experiment 2 aims to investigate the role of the right occipito-temporal cortex in LSF processing with a neurological female patient who had a focal lesion of this region due to an embolization of an arterioveinous malformation. This study was conducted 1 week before and 6 months after the surgical intervention. As expected, after the embolization, LSF scene recognition was more impaired than HSF scene recognition. These data support the hypothesis that the right occipito-temporal cortex might be preferentially specialized for LSF information processing and more generally suggest a hemispheric specialization in SF processing in females, although it is difficult to demonstrate in healthy women.

Publication types

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

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Analysis of Variance
  • Arteriovenous Malformations / pathology
  • Arteriovenous Malformations / physiopathology
  • Arteriovenous Malformations / therapy
  • Cerebral Angiography / methods
  • Embolization, Therapeutic / methods
  • Female
  • Functional Laterality / physiology
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Occipital Lobe / pathology
  • Pattern Recognition, Visual / physiology*
  • Photic Stimulation / methods
  • Reaction Time / physiology*
  • Recognition, Psychology / physiology*
  • Sex Factors
  • Space Perception / physiology*
  • Temporal Lobe / pathology
  • Visual Fields / physiology