Activity of neurons in monkey posterior temporal cortex during multidimensional visual discrimination tasks. 1984

D J Braitman

Unit activity was recorded from the posterior temporal cortex (PTE) of awake, behaving rhesus monkeys while they performed a series of visual discrimination tasks involving colored checkerboard patterns. The activity of 130 (91%) of 143 PTE units was altered by the presentation of a visual discriminandum; 112 of these cells (86%) exhibited a significant increase in firing after presentation of the stimulus while the remainder gave an inhibitory response. Over half (64%) the PTE units exhibited differential activity between discriminanda, i.e. they were selective for color and/or form. Six of 10 neurons, recorded when the monkey was required to shift attention from one stimulus feature to another, exhibited a difference in poststimulus neural activity even though the discriminandum remained the same. Three neurons were recorded from when the stimuli were altered by changing the check size although the relevant (i.e. rewarded) dimension (color) was left the same; two showed an invariant response to the altered stimuli and one gave the same response to one of the altered stimuli but a different response to the other. These data support the role of posterior temporal cortex in visual discrimination learning and visual attention.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D008253 Macaca mulatta A species of the genus MACACA inhabiting India, China, and other parts of Asia. The species is used extensively in biomedical research and adapts very well to living with humans. Chinese Rhesus Macaques,Macaca mulatta lasiota,Monkey, Rhesus,Rhesus Monkey,Rhesus Macaque,Chinese Rhesus Macaque,Macaca mulatta lasiotas,Macaque, Rhesus,Rhesus Macaque, Chinese,Rhesus Macaques,Rhesus Macaques, Chinese,Rhesus Monkeys
D001931 Brain Mapping Imaging techniques used to colocalize sites of brain functions or physiological activity with brain structures. Brain Electrical Activity Mapping,Functional Cerebral Localization,Topographic Brain Mapping,Brain Mapping, Topographic,Functional Cerebral Localizations,Mapping, Brain,Mapping, Topographic Brain
D003118 Color Perception Mental processing of chromatic signals (COLOR VISION) from the eye by the VISUAL CORTEX where they are converted into symbolic representations. Color perception involves numerous neurons, and is influenced not only by the distribution of wavelengths from the viewed object, but also by its background color and brightness contrast at its boundary. Color Perceptions,Perception, Color,Perceptions, Color
D004193 Discrimination Learning Learning that is manifested in the ability to respond differentially to various stimuli. Discriminative Learning,Discrimination Learnings,Discriminative Learnings,Learning, Discrimination,Learning, Discriminative
D004594 Electrophysiology The study of the generation and behavior of electrical charges in living organisms particularly the nervous system and the effects of electricity on living organisms.
D000818 Animals Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA. Animal,Metazoa,Animalia
D001288 Attention Focusing on certain aspects of current experience to the exclusion of others. It is the act of heeding or taking notice or concentrating. Focus of Attention,Selective Attention,Social Attention,Attention Focus,Attention, Selective,Attention, Social,Selective Attentions
D012858 Size Perception The sensory interpretation of the dimensions of objects. Perception, Size,Perceptions, Size,Size Perceptions
D013702 Temporal Lobe Lower lateral part of the cerebral hemisphere responsible for auditory, olfactory, and semantic processing. It is located inferior to the lateral fissure and anterior to the OCCIPITAL LOBE. Anterior Temporal Lobe,Brodmann Area 20,Brodmann Area 21,Brodmann Area 22,Brodmann Area 37,Brodmann Area 38,Brodmann Area 52,Brodmann's Area 20,Brodmann's Area 21,Brodmann's Area 22,Brodmann's Area 37,Brodmann's Area 38,Brodmann's Area 52,Inferior Temporal Gyrus,Middle Temporal Gyrus,Parainsular Area,Fusiform Gyrus,Gyrus Fusiformis,Gyrus Temporalis Superior,Inferior Horn of Lateral Ventricle,Inferior Horn of the Lateral Ventricle,Lateral Occipito-Temporal Gyrus,Lateral Occipitotemporal Gyrus,Occipitotemporal Gyrus,Planum Polare,Superior Temporal Gyrus,Temporal Cortex,Temporal Gyrus,Temporal Horn,Temporal Horn of the Lateral Ventricle,Temporal Operculum,Temporal Region,Temporal Sulcus,Anterior Temporal Lobes,Area 20, Brodmann,Area 20, Brodmann's,Area 21, Brodmann,Area 21, Brodmann's,Area 22, Brodmann,Area 22, Brodmann's,Area 37, Brodmann,Area 37, Brodmann's,Area 38, Brodmann,Area 38, Brodmann's,Area 52, Brodmann,Area 52, Brodmann's,Area, Parainsular,Areas, Parainsular,Brodmanns Area 20,Brodmanns Area 21,Brodmanns Area 22,Brodmanns Area 37,Brodmanns Area 38,Brodmanns Area 52,Cortex, Temporal,Gyrus, Fusiform,Gyrus, Inferior Temporal,Gyrus, Lateral Occipito-Temporal,Gyrus, Lateral Occipitotemporal,Gyrus, Middle Temporal,Gyrus, Occipitotemporal,Gyrus, Superior Temporal,Gyrus, Temporal,Horn, Temporal,Lateral Occipito Temporal Gyrus,Lobe, Anterior Temporal,Lobe, Temporal,Occipito-Temporal Gyrus, Lateral,Occipitotemporal Gyrus, Lateral,Operculum, Temporal,Parainsular Areas,Region, Temporal,Sulcus, Temporal,Temporal Cortices,Temporal Gyrus, Inferior,Temporal Gyrus, Middle,Temporal Gyrus, Superior,Temporal Horns,Temporal Lobe, Anterior,Temporal Lobes,Temporal Lobes, Anterior,Temporal Regions
D014796 Visual Perception The selecting and organizing of visual stimuli based on the individual's past experience. Visual Processing,Perception, Visual,Processing, Visual

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