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Cited by 701Visual perception and processing mechanismsTactile and Sensory InteractionsPhilosophy and Theoretical Science

Topographical representations of mental images in primary visual cortex

Kosslyn, Stephen M., Thompson, William L., Klm, Irene J., Alpert, Nathaniel M.·1995·Nature
DOI 10.1038/378496a0
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Abstract

We report here the use of positron emission tomography (PET) to reveal that the primary visual cortex is activated when subjects close their eyes and visualize objects. The size of the image is systematically related to the location of maximal activity, which is as expected because the earliest visual areas are spatially organized. These results were only evident, however, when imagery conditions were compared to a non-imagery baseline in which the same auditory cues were presented (and hence the stimuli were controlled); when a resting baseline was used (and hence brain activation was uncontrolled), imagery activation was obscured because of activation in visual cortex during the baseline condition. These findings resolve a debate in the literature about whether imagery activates early visual cortex and indicate that visual mental imagery involves 'depictive' representations, not solely language-like descriptions. Moreover, the fact that stored visual information can affect processing in even the earliest visual areas suggests that knowledge can fundamentally bias what one sees.

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Crossref · 10.1038/378496a0

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22 of 22 references verified0 citation errors · 0 not checkable

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  • The idea that mental imagery plays a functional role in facilitating future perception is supported by a recent study that found that mental imagery biases subsequent perception in a binocular rivalry task, as well as by the correlation between mental imagery performance and representational precision.

    “The idea that mental imagery plays a functional role in facilitating future perception is supported by a recent study that found that mental imagery biases subsequent perception in a binocular rivalry task [35,38], as well as by the correlation between IM performance and representational precision (Figure S2).”

    From Shared representations for working memory and mental imagery in early visual cortex (2013) · cites this paper as [35]

  • One reason for low overall activity may be that visual areas exhibit high spontaneous activity during rest, whose functional significance may be similar to mental imagery.

    “One reason for this may be that visual areas also exhibit an overall high level of spontaneous activity during rest [34], the functional significance of which may be quite similar to mental imagery [35].”

    From Shared representations for working memory and mental imagery in early visual cortex (2013) · cites this paper as [35]

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Authors
Kosslyn, S. M., Thompson, W. L., Klm, I. J., & Alpert, N. M.
Affiliations
  • Harvard University (US)
  • Massachusetts General Hospital (US)
ORCID
Venue
Nature
Publisher
Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Published
1995-11
Volume
378
Issue
6556
Pages
496-498
ISSN
  • 0028-0836 (ISSN-L)
  • 1476-4687
DOI
10.1038/378496a0
OpenAlex
W1975140269
Cited by
701
References
22
Citations by year
2026: 12 · 2025: 12 · 2024: 8 · 2023: 49 · 2022: 12 · 2021: 15 · 2020: 30 · 2019: 21 · 2018: 13 · 2017: 16 · 2016: 14 · 2015: 20 · 2014: 15 · 2013: 34 · 2012: 31
FWCI
12.72
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Licence
www.springer.com/tdm (tdm)
Locations
  • Nature (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Visual perception and processing mechanisms
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Tactile and Sensory Interactions
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Philosophy and Theoretical Science
Keywords
visual imagery, primary visual cortex, topographic organization, image size, auditory cues, visual cortex activation
MeSH terms
Brain Mapping, Cerebrovascular Circulation, Humans, Imagination, Male, Tomography, Emission-Computed, Visual Cortex

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