title: Three-dimensional shape coding in inferior temporal cortex.
abstract: Neurons in the rostral lower bank of the superior temporal sulcus (TEs), part of the inferior temporal cortex, respond selectively to three-dimensional (3D) shapes. We have investigated how these neurons represent disparity-defined 3D structure. Most neurons were selective for either first-order (disparity gradients) or second-order (disparity curvature) disparities. The latter selectivity proved remarkably vulnerable to disparity discontinuities, such as sharp edges or steps in disparity. The majority of the neurons remained selective for small disparity variations within the stimulus. 3D shape selectivity was preserved when the frontoparallel position or the stimulus size was altered. Thus, in TEs, 3D shape is coded by first- and second-order disparity-selective neurons, which are highly sensitive to spatial variations of disparity.
authors.affiliation: Laboratorium voor Neuro-en Psychofysiologie, KU Leuven Medical School, Belgium.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Janssen
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Vogels
authors.forename: G A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Orban
mesh_terms: D000200:Action Potentials / Q000502:physiology; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D003867:Depth Perception / Q000502:physiology*; D005133:Eye Movements / Q000502:physiology; D005403:Fixation, Ocular / Q000502:physiology; D005556:Form Perception / Q000502:physiology*; D008253:Macaca mulatta; D008297:Male; D009474:Neurons / Q000502:physiology*; D010775:Photic Stimulation; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D013702:Temporal Lobe / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology*; D015357:Vision Disparity / Q000502:physiology; D014851:Wakefulness / Q000502:physiology