title: Categorical representation of visual stimuli in the primate prefrontal cortex.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Center for Learning and Memory, Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA.
authors.forename: D J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Freedman
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Riesenhuber
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Poggio
authors.forename: E K
authors.initials: EK
authors.lastname: Miller
mesh_terms: 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