Categorical representation of visual stimuli in the primate prefrontal cortex.
The ability to group stimuli into meaningful categories is a fundamental cognitive process. To explore its neural basis, we trained monkeys to categorize computer-generated stimuli as "cats" and "dogs." A morphing system was used to systematically vary stimulus shape and precisely define the category boundary. Neural activity in the lateral prefrontal cortex reflected the category of visual stimuli, even when a monkey was retrained with the stimuli assigned to new categories.
Freedman
D J
DJ
Center for Learning and Memory, Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA.
Riesenhuber
M
M
Poggio
T
T
Miller
E K
EK
D000818:Animals; D001931:Brain Mapping; D002415:Cats; D003071:Cognition; D004285:Dogs; D005556:Form Perception; D000882:Haplorhini; D007858:Learning; D008606:Mental Processes / Q000502:physiology*; D009474:Neurons / Q000502:physiology*; D010775:Photic Stimulation; D017397:Prefrontal Cortex / Q000502:physiology*; D013702:Temporal Lobe / Q000502:physiology