How Monkeys Interpret Ambiguous Images
Author Information
Author(s): Liu Yan, Jagadeesh Bharathi
Primary Institution: University of Washington
Hypothesis
The interpretation of ambiguous images influences neural responses in the inferotemporal cortex.
Conclusion
Monkeys' interpretations of ambiguous images are reflected in the neural responses of individual neurons in the inferotemporal cortex.
Supporting Evidence
- Neural responses in the inferotemporal cortex were correlated with the monkeys' interpretations of ambiguous images.
- Monkeys classified the same ambiguous image differently across sessions, reflecting variability in interpretation.
- Neural responses shifted to resemble the response to the initial interpretation of the ambiguous image over the course of a session.
Takeaway
Monkeys see pictures that can look like two different things, and their brains react differently based on what they think they see.
Methodology
Monkeys performed a two-alternative delayed match-to-sample task while neural responses were recorded from the inferotemporal cortex.
Potential Biases
Potential bias in the selection of neurons based on their response characteristics.
Limitations
The study was limited to two male adult monkeys, and the anatomical data for recording sites were unavailable.
Participant Demographics
Two male adult monkeys (Macacca Mulatta) weighing 5–8 kg.
Statistical Information
P-Value
0.0001
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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