Multiple visual objects are sampled sequentially

PLoS Biol. 2017 Jul 24;15(7):e2003230. doi: 10.1371/journal.pbio.2003230. eCollection 2017 Jul.

Abstract

When acting in a complex visual environment, it is essential to be able to flexibly allocate attention to parts of the visual scene that may contain goal-relevant information. The paper by Jia et al. provides novel evidence that our brains sequentially sample different objects in a visual scene. The results were obtained using "temporal response functions," in which unique electroencephalographic (EEG) signals corresponding to the processing of 2 continuously presented objects were isolated in an object-specific way. These response functions were dominated by 10-Hz alpha-band activity. Crucially, the different objects were sequentially sampled at a rate of about 2 Hz. These findings provide important neurophysiological insights into how our visual system operates in complex environments.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Attention*
  • Electroencephalography
  • Humans
  • Neurons / physiology
  • Pattern Recognition, Visual*
  • Temporal Lobe / physiology
  • Time Factors
  • Vision, Binocular*
  • Visual Cortex / physiology
  • Visual Pathways / physiology

Grants and funding

The authors received no specific funding for this work.