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Three-dimensional orientation tuning in macaque area V4

Nature Neuroscience volume 5, pages 665–670 (2002)Cite this article

Abstract

Tuning for the orientation of elongated, linear image elements (edges, bars, gratings), first discovered by Hubel and Wiesel, is considered a key feature of visual processing in the brain. It has been studied extensively in two dimensions (2D) using frontoparallel stimuli, but in real life most lines, edges and contours are slanted with respect to the viewer. Here we report that neurons in macaque area V4, an intermediate stage in the ventral (object-related) pathway of visual cortex, were tuned for 3D orientation—that is, for specific slants as well as for 2D orientation. The tuning for 3D orientation was consistent across depth position (binocular disparity) and position within the 2D classical receptive field. The existence of 3D orientation signals in the ventral pathway suggests that the brain may use such information to interpret 3D shape.

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Figure 1: 3D orientation tuning of a representative V4 neuron.
Figure 2: 3D orientation-tuning examples.
Figure 3: Raster plot of individual-trial responses for the Fig. 2c example cell.
Figure 4: Population results.

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Acknowledgements

We thank S.L. Brincat, G.F. Poggio and R. von der Heydt for comments on the manuscript. Some analyses were suggested by B.G. Cumming. Technical support was provided by W. Nash, W. Quinlan and B. Sorenson. This work was supported by the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke and by the Pew Scholars Program in the Biomedical Sciences.

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  1. Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and Zanvyl Krieger Mind/Brain Institute, 338 Krieger Hall, 3400 North Charles Street, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, 21218, Maryland, USA

    David A. Hinkle & Charles E. Connor

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Correspondence to Charles E. Connor.

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Hinkle, D., Connor, C. Three-dimensional orientation tuning in macaque area V4. Nat Neurosci 5, 665–670 (2002). https://doi.org/10.1038/nn875

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