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Cortical and subcortical signatures of conscious object recognition

Author

Listed:
  • Max Levinson

    (New York University School of Medicine)

  • Ella Podvalny

    (New York University School of Medicine)

  • Steven H. Baete

    (New York University School of Medicine)

  • Biyu J. He

    (New York University School of Medicine
    New York University School of Medicine
    New York University School of Medicine
    New York University School of Medicine)

Abstract

The neural mechanisms underlying conscious recognition remain unclear, particularly the roles played by the prefrontal cortex, deactivated brain areas and subcortical regions. We investigated neural activity during conscious object recognition using 7 Tesla fMRI while human participants viewed object images presented at liminal contrasts. Here, we show both recognized and unrecognized images recruit widely distributed cortical and subcortical regions; however, recognized images elicit enhanced activation of visual, frontoparietal, and subcortical networks and stronger deactivation of the default-mode network. For recognized images, object category information can be decoded from all of the involved cortical networks but not from subcortical regions. Phase-scrambled images trigger strong involvement of inferior frontal junction, anterior cingulate cortex and default-mode network, implicating these regions in inferential processing under increased uncertainty. Our results indicate that content-specific activity in both activated and deactivated cortical networks and non-content-specific subcortical activity support conscious recognition.

Suggested Citation

  • Max Levinson & Ella Podvalny & Steven H. Baete & Biyu J. He, 2021. "Cortical and subcortical signatures of conscious object recognition," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 12(1), pages 1-16, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:12:y:2021:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-021-23266-x
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-23266-x
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Sharif I. Kronemer & Mark Aksen & Julia Z. Ding & Jun Hwan Ryu & Qilong Xin & Zhaoxiong Ding & Jacob S. Prince & Hunki Kwon & Aya Khalaf & Sarit Forman & David S. Jin & Kevin Wang & Kaylie Chen & Clai, 2022. "Human visual consciousness involves large scale cortical and subcortical networks independent of task report and eye movement activity," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-17, December.
    2. Yuan-hao Wu & Ella Podvalny & Max Levinson & Biyu J. He, 2024. "Network mechanisms of ongoing brain activity’s influence on conscious visual perception," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-18, December.

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