VEP, EEG and MEG studies of texture segregation processes: complete maturational course throughout adulthood

纹理分离过程的 VEP、EEG 和 MEG 研究：整个成年期的完整成熟过程

• 批准号: 327504-2006
• 负责人: McKerral, Michelle
• 金额: $ 1.4万
• 依托单位: Université de Montréal
• 依托单位国家: 加拿大
• 项目类别: Discovery Grants Program - Individual
• 财政年份: 2008
• 资助国家: 加拿大
• 起止时间: 2008-01-01 至 2009-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/ase-oro/Details-Detailles_eng.asp?id=397807
• 关键词: VEP; EEG; MEG; studies; texture

The way in which our brain integrates all the information present in our visual world in order to form unified and coherent percepts relies on different mechanisms. One of these is the segregation of textures, which can be determined by various visual dimensions such as luminance, orientation, size of objects, color, motion, etc. Primary visual pathway function has been extensively studied during early development as well as in adults. However, more integrative visual processes have received much less attention. Thus, the developmental curve as well as the point at which texture segregation becomes mature has yet to be determined. Furthermore, the interactions and synchronization taking place between different cortical areas during such complex visual processes have just begun to receive attention. In recent years, techniques such as electrophysiology and magnetoencephalography (MEG), used to measure brain activity, have become precise enough to study such mechanisms in all age groups. The present research program aims at describing, with these tools: 1) how normal texture segregation processes develop during infancy and childhood; 2) when they reach adult-like function; 3) what are the exact cortical interactions and integration mechanisms involved. Low-level and texture-segregation visual evoked potentials as well as EEG gamma activity and MEG recordings will be obtained in children (1 month-16 years) as well as in adult groups of different ages (20-60 yrs). Visuo-perceptual measures of integration and segmentation will also be obtained in order to have behavioral correlates of the complex visual processes at study with electrophysiology and MEG. The suggested approach is original in that it combines state-of-the-art functional brain imaging techniques with traditional behavioral (neuropsychological) measures in the context of a study of the complete developmental course throughout adulthood of texture segregation mechanisms. Because texture segregation is so important in higher visual processing, such a research program will provide a better understanding of how these mechanisms develop, as well as of the type and localization of brain activity and interactions involved.

我们的大脑整合视觉世界中存在的所有信息以形成统一和连贯的感知的方式依赖于不同的机制。其中之一是纹理的分离，这可以由不同的视觉维度决定，如亮度、方向、物体大小、颜色、运动等。初级视觉通路功能在早期发育过程中得到了广泛的研究，成年人也是如此。然而，更具综合性的视觉过程受到的关注要少得多。因此，织构偏析的发展曲线和成熟点仍有待确定。此外，在这种复杂的视觉过程中，不同皮质区域之间发生的相互作用和同步刚刚开始受到关注。近年来，用于测量大脑活动的电生理学和脑磁图(MEG)等技术已经变得足够精确，可以在所有年龄段研究这种机制。本研究的目的是用这些工具描述：1)正常的质地分离过程是如何在婴儿期和儿童期发展的；2)当它们达到成人样的功能时；3)涉及的确切的皮质相互作用和整合机制是什么。将在儿童(1个月-16岁)和不同年龄的成人(20-60岁)中获得低水平和纹理分离的视觉诱发电位以及脑电伽马活动和脑磁图记录。还将获得整合和分割的视觉感知测量，以便与电生理学和脑磁图研究中的复杂视觉过程有行为关联。建议的方法是独创性的，因为它结合了最先进的脑功能成像技术和传统的行为(神经心理学)测量，在研究整个成年期纹理分离机制的完整发展过程的背景下。由于纹理分离在高级视觉处理中是如此重要，这样的研究计划将提供更好的了解这些机制是如何发展的，以及涉及的大脑活动和相互作用的类型和定位。