Cortical depth profiles in primary visual cortex for illusory and imaginary experiences

Johanna Bergmann (), Lucy S. Petro, Clement Abbatecola, Min S. Li, A. Tyler Morgan and Lars Muckli ()
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Johanna Bergmann: University of Glasgow
Lucy S. Petro: University of Glasgow
Clement Abbatecola: University of Glasgow
Min S. Li: University of Glasgow
A. Tyler Morgan: University of Glasgow
Lars Muckli: University of Glasgow

Nature Communications, 2024, vol. 15, issue 1, 1-13

Abstract: Abstract Visual illusions and mental imagery are non-physical sensory experiences that involve cortical feedback processing in the primary visual cortex. Using laminar functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) in two studies, we investigate if information about these internal experiences is visible in the activation patterns of different layers of primary visual cortex (V1). We find that imagery content is decodable mainly from deep layers of V1, whereas seemingly ‘real’ illusory content is decodable mainly from superficial layers. Furthermore, illusory content shares information with perceptual content, whilst imagery content does not generalise to illusory or perceptual information. Together, our results suggest that illusions and imagery, which differ immensely in their subjective experiences, also involve partially distinct early visual microcircuits. However, overlapping microcircuit recruitment might emerge based on the nuanced nature of subjective conscious experience.

Date: 2024
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-45065-w

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