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Detecting biological motion signals in human and monkey superior colliculus: a subcortical-cortical pathway for biological motion perception

Author

Listed:
  • Xiqian Lu

    (Chinese Academy of Sciences
    University of Chinese Academy of Sciences)

  • Zhaoqi Hu

    (Chinese Academy of Sciences
    University of Chinese Academy of Sciences)

  • Yumeng Xin

    (Chinese Academy of Sciences
    University of Chinese Academy of Sciences)

  • Tianshu Yang

    (Chinese Academy of Sciences
    University of Chinese Academy of Sciences
    Shanghai Jiao Tong University)

  • Ying Wang

    (Chinese Academy of Sciences
    University of Chinese Academy of Sciences)

  • Peng Zhang

    (Chinese Academy of Sciences
    University of Chinese Academy of Sciences)

  • Ning Liu

    (Chinese Academy of Sciences
    University of Chinese Academy of Sciences)

  • Yi Jiang

    (Chinese Academy of Sciences
    University of Chinese Academy of Sciences)

Abstract

Most vertebrates, including humans, are highly adept at detecting and encoding biological motion, even when it is portrayed by just a few point lights attached to the head and major joints. However, the function of subcortical regions in biological motion perception has been scarcely explored. Here, we investigate the role of the superior colliculus in local biological motion processing. Using high-field (3 T) and ultra-high-field (7 T) functional magnetic resonance imaging, we record the neural responses of the superior colliculus to scrambled point-light walkers (with local kinematics retained) in both humans and male macaque monkeys. Results show that the superior colliculus, especially the superficial layers, selectively responds to local biological motion. Furthermore, dynamic causal modeling analysis reveals a subcortical-cortical functional pathway that transmits local biological motion signals from the superior colliculus via the middle temporal visual complex to the posterior superior temporal sulcus in the human brain. These findings suggest the existence of a cross-species mechanism in the superior colliculus that facilitates the detection of local biological motion at the early stage of the visual processing stream.

Suggested Citation

  • Xiqian Lu & Zhaoqi Hu & Yumeng Xin & Tianshu Yang & Ying Wang & Peng Zhang & Ning Liu & Yi Jiang, 2024. "Detecting biological motion signals in human and monkey superior colliculus: a subcortical-cortical pathway for biological motion perception," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-11, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:15:y:2024:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-024-53968-x
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-53968-x
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Giorgio Vallortigara & Lucia Regolin & Fabio Marconato, 2005. "Visually Inexperienced Chicks Exhibit Spontaneous Preference for Biological Motion Patterns," PLOS Biology, Public Library of Science, vol. 3(7), pages 1-1, June.
    2. Ying Wang & Xue Zhang & Chunhui Wang & Weifen Huang & Qian Xu & Dong Liu & Wen Zhou & Shanguang Chen & Yi Jiang, 2022. "Modulation of biological motion perception in humans by gravity," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-10, December.
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