title: Imaging the visual autokinetic illusion with fMRI.
abstract: During fixation of a stationary, dim light-emitting diode (LED) in complete darkness, a subtle, apparent motion is perceived which is called autokinesis. This autokinetic illusion increases with increasing fixation time. Eleven healthy subjects were examined by fMRI while fixating an LED in darkness for 35 s. BOLD signal changes of the first and the second half of the fixation period were compared. While the stimulus was the same for both periods, perception differed in that autokinesis was more pronounced in the second half. This second half of the period was associated with bilateral activations in the motion-sensitive middle occipito-temporal area known as MT/V5. Our finding suggests that area MT/V5 is involved in the mediation of autokinesis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Ludwig-Maximilians University, Klinikum Grosshadern, Marchioninistr. 15, D-81377 Munich, Germany. Eva.Riedel@nro.med.uni-muenchen.de
authors.forename: Eva
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Riedel
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Stephan
authors.forename: Angela
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Deutschländer
authors.forename: Roger
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kalla
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wiesmann
authors.forename: Marianne
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dieterich
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Brandt
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001921:Brain / Q000502:physiology*; D003627:Data Interpretation, Statistical; D005260:Female; D005403:Fixation, Ocular; D006801:Humans; D007088:Illusions / Q000502:physiology*; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D015225:Magnetoencephalography; D008297:Male; D009039:Motion Perception / Q000502:physiology*; D010100:Oxygen / Q000097:blood; D010775:Photic Stimulation
chemical_list: D010100:Oxygen