Modality-independent representations of object shape in macaque inferotemporal cortex

项目摘要 准确的形状感知对于识别和操纵我们环境中的对象至关重要。在我们的 感官、视觉和触觉都是独一无二的，因为它们都传达几何形状。尽管触觉和视觉 感觉输入最初是沿着不同的感觉路径进行处理的，我们将物体的形状体验为 统一的、独立于医疗模式的感知。大脑如何产生与通道无关的表征 形状仍不得而知。人类功能磁共振成像研究发现，侧枕复合体(LOC)是一个关键区域 对于视觉-触觉整合，功能磁共振成像的低空间分辨率未能揭示用于 表示对象形状。为了解决这一知识鸿沟，我建议研究触觉的表征 猕猴下颞叶皮质(IT)的视觉形状，这是人类LOC的同源。具体地说，我将测试 这一假说认为猕猴IT创造了不依赖于形态的触觉和视觉形状表征。至 为此，我将记录猕猴接触物体时，IT中多个神经元的同时活动 呈现为可视图像或3D打印的触觉对象。首先，我将确定IT神经元是否以及如何代表 触觉形状。其次，我将探讨信息技术中视觉触觉形状表征的神经基础。通过 阐明了IT产生与形态无关的形状表征的神经机制，这 研究将阐明大脑如何能够识别不同感觉模式的形状。此外， 该项目的发现将支持下一代神经假体植入物的开发，这种植入物可以 利用触觉和视觉感官输入。

Project Summary Accurate shape perception is crucial to identifying and manipulating objects in our environment. Among our senses, vision and touch are unique in that they both convey geometric shape. Although haptic and visual sensory inputs are initially processed along distinct sensory pathways, we experience an object’s shape as a unified, modality-independent percept. How the brain generates modality-independent representations of shape remains unknown. Human fMRI studies have identified the lateral occipital complex (LOC) as a key area for visuo-haptic integration, yet the low spatial resolution of fMRI has failed to reveal the neural code used for representing object shape. To address this knowledge gap, I propose to study the representations of haptic and visual shapes in macaque inferotemporal cortex (IT), the homologue of human LOC. Specifically, I will test the hypothesis that macaque IT creates modality-independent representations of haptic and visual shapes. To this end, I will record the simultaneous activity of multiple neurons in IT while macaques are exposed to objects presented as visual images or as 3D-printed haptic objects. First, I will identify if and how IT neurons represent haptic shapes. Second, I will explore the neural basis of visuo-haptic shape representations in IT. By elucidating the neural mechanisms by which IT generates modality-independent shape representations, this research will shed light on how the brain is able to recognize shapes across sensory modalities. Furthermore, the findings of this project will support the development of next-generation neuroprosthetic implants that can leverage both haptic and visual sensory input.