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Psychophysically measured task strategy for disparity discrimination is reflected in V2 neurons

Nature Neuroscience volume 10, pages 1608–1614 (2007)Cite this article

Abstract

In perceptual tasks, subjects attempt to rely on their most informative cues. Such strategic choices should be reflected in the types of sensory neurons that are used. We investigated this in a binocular-disparity discrimination task. Using psychophysical reverse-correlation, also known as image classification, we identified the perceptual strategies of two macaques (Macaca mulatta). Correlations between reported disparity signs and disparity noise samples for each trial yielded detection 'filters'. Filter amplitude was greater at near disparities than at far disparities, indicating that the subjects relied more on near disparities. Recordings from both macaques' disparity-selective V2 neurons showed a correlation between neuronal responses and perceptual judgment in near-preferring, but not far-preferring, units, mirroring the psychophysically measured strategy. After one monkey learned to weight near and far disparities equally, activity in its far-preferring neurons correlated with choice. Thus, the pattern of correlations between neuronal activity and perceptual reports indicates how subjects use their neuronal signals.

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Figure 1: Methods.
Figure 2: The psychophysical kernels for one experimental condition.
Figure 3: Psychophysical kernels for all experimental conditions.
Figure 4: Distribution of choice probabilities in V2, separated for near- and far-preferring neurons.
Figure 5: Distribution of choice probabilities separated by monkeys and preferred disparity sign.
Figure 6: Choice probability depends on preferred disparity.

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Acknowledgements

We thank C. Hillman, M. Szarowicz, C. Silver and D. Parker for excellent animal care. This research was supported by the Intramural Research Program of the US National Institutes of Health, National Eye Institute.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratory of Sensorimotor Research, National Eye Institute, National Institutes of Health, 49/2A50 Convent Drive, Bethesda, 20892-4435, Maryland, USA

    Hendrikje Nienborg & Bruce G Cumming

Authors
  1. Hendrikje Nienborg
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  2. Bruce G Cumming
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Contributions

H.N. conducted the experiments and the data analysis and wrote the paper. B.G.C. supervised the project.

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Correspondence to Hendrikje Nienborg.

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Supplementary Figures 1–6, Disccusion, Methods and Results (PDF 324 kb)

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Nienborg, H., Cumming, B. Psychophysically measured task strategy for disparity discrimination is reflected in V2 neurons. Nat Neurosci 10, 1608–1614 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1038/nn1991

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