Cortical distinction between the neural encoding of objects that appear to glow and those that do not

Brain Res Cogn Brain Res. 2005 Jun;24(1):173-6. doi: 10.1016/j.cogbrainres.2004.12.012.

Abstract

Objects that appear to glow appear very different from those that do not. However, the neural representation of glow has not been investigated. We present data from an fMRI study which suggest that an extra-striate visual area is involved in the encoding of glowing stimuli, and that this activation does not arise from luminance or contrast factors. Possible functional reasons for the existence of such an area are discussed.

Publication types

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

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Brain Mapping*
  • Color Perception / physiology
  • Contrast Sensitivity / physiology
  • Discrimination, Psychological / physiology*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging / methods
  • Male
  • Oxygen / blood
  • Pattern Recognition, Visual / physiology*
  • Photic Stimulation / methods
  • Visual Cortex / blood supply
  • Visual Cortex / physiology*

Substances

  • Oxygen