Large-scale mirror-symmetry organization of human occipito-temporal object areas.
We have combined functional maps of retinotopy (eccentricity and meridian mapping), object category, and motion in a group of subjects to explore the large-scale topography of higher-order object areas. Our results reveal seven consistent category-related entities situated in the occipito-temporal cortex adjoining early visual areas. These include two face-related regions, three object-related regions, and two building-related regions. Interestingly, this complex category-related pattern is organized in a large-scale dorso-ventral mirror symmetry of object category. Furthermore, correlating this pattern to the map of visual field eccentricity, we found that the entire network of areas could be related to a single and unified eccentricity map. We hypothesize that this large-scale organization points to a possible development of high-order object areas through extension and specialization of a single proto-representation.
Hasson
Uri
U
Department of Neurobiology, Weizmann Institute of Science, Reovot 76100, Israel.
Harel
Michal
M
Levy
Ifat
I
Malach
Rafael
R
D001931:Brain Mapping; D007839:Functional Laterality; D006801:Humans; D009038:Motion; D009778:Occipital Lobe / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000502:physiology*; D010364:Pattern Recognition, Visual; D013702:Temporal Lobe / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000502:physiology*; D014793:Visual Cortex / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000502:physiology; D014794:Visual Fields / Q000502:physiology; D014796:Visual Perception