Long-term priors influence visual perception through recruitment of long-range feedback

Richard Hardstone, Michael Zhu, Adeen Flinker, Lucia Melloni, Sasha Devore, Daniel Friedman, Patricia Dugan, Werner K. Doyle, Orrin Devinsky and Biyu J. He ()
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Richard Hardstone: New York University Grossman School of Medicine
Michael Zhu: New York University Grossman School of Medicine
Adeen Flinker: New York University Grossman School of Medicine
Lucia Melloni: New York University Grossman School of Medicine
Sasha Devore: New York University Grossman School of Medicine
Daniel Friedman: New York University Grossman School of Medicine
Patricia Dugan: New York University Grossman School of Medicine
Werner K. Doyle: New York University Grossman School of Medicine
Orrin Devinsky: New York University Grossman School of Medicine
Biyu J. He: New York University Grossman School of Medicine

Nature Communications, 2021, vol. 12, issue 1, 1-15

Abstract: Abstract Perception results from the interplay of sensory input and prior knowledge. Despite behavioral evidence that long-term priors powerfully shape perception, the neural mechanisms underlying these interactions remain poorly understood. We obtained direct cortical recordings in neurosurgical patients as they viewed ambiguous images that elicit constant perceptual switching. We observe top-down influences from the temporal to occipital cortex, during the preferred percept that is congruent with the long-term prior. By contrast, stronger feedforward drive is observed during the non-preferred percept, consistent with a prediction error signal. A computational model based on hierarchical predictive coding and attractor networks reproduces all key experimental findings. These results suggest a pattern of large-scale information flow change underlying long-term priors’ influence on perception and provide constraints on theories about long-term priors’ influence on perception.

Date: 2021
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-26544-w

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