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Cited by 1,615Visual perception and processing mechanismsVisual Attention and Saliency DetectionMultisensory perception and integration

Neural mechanisms of spatial selective attention in areas V1, V2, and V4 of macaque visual cortex

Luck, Steven J., Chelazzi, Leonardo, Hillyard, Steven A., Desimone, Robert·1997·Journal of Neurophysiology
DOI 10.1152/jn.1997.77.1.24
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Abstract

Many neurons in extrastriate visual cortex have large receptive fields, and this may lead to significant computational problems whenever multiple stimuli fall within a single field. Previous studies have suggested that when multiple stimuli fall within a cell's receptive field, they compete for the cell's response in a manner that can be biased in favor of attended stimuli. In the present study we examined this role of attention in areas V1, V2, and V4 of macaque monkeys with the use of a behavioral paradigm in which attention was directed to one of two stimulus locations. When two stimuli were presented simultaneously inside the cell's receptive field (which could be accomplished only in areas V2 and V4), we found that the cell's response was strongly influenced by which of the two stimuli was attended. The size of this attention effect was reduced when the attended and ignored stimuli were presented sequentially rather than simultaneously. In addition, the effects became very weak and inconsistent in these areas when only one of the two stimuli was located inside the receptive field. Attention thus modulated sensory responses primarily when two or more simultaneous stimuli competed for access to a neuron's receptive field. As in areas V2 and V4, attention did not modulate sensory responses in area V1 when only a single stimulus was inside the receptive field. In addition, the small receptive fields in this area precluded the simultaneous presentation of attended and ignored stimuli inside the receptive field, making it impossible to determine whether attention effects would be observed under the conditions that led to consistent attention effects in areas V2 and V4. Spontaneous firing rates in areas V2 and V4 were found to be 30-40% higher when attention was directed inside rather than outside the receptive field, even when no stimulus was present in the receptive field. Spontaneous firing rates also varied according to the particular location within the receptive field that was attended. These shifts in spontaneous activity may reflect a top-down signal that biases responses in favor of stimuli at the attended location.

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  • Selective attention increases the S/N and both spontaneous and evoked firing rates.

    “increases the S/N and both spontaneous and evoked firing rates (Luck et al., 1997; McAdams and Maunsell, 1999b; Reynolds et al., 1999; Reynolds and Desimone, 1999)”

    From Waking state: rapid variations modulate neural and behavioral responses (2015) · cites this paper as Luck et al., 1997

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Authors
Luck, S. J., Chelazzi, L., Hillyard, S. A., & Desimone, R.
Affiliations
  • University of Iowa (US)
  • University of Verona (IT)
  • University of California San Diego (US)
  • National Institutes of Health (US)
ORCID
Venue
Journal of Neurophysiology
Publisher
American Physiological Society
Published
1997-01-01
Volume
77
Issue
1
Pages
24-42
ISSN
  • 0022-3077 (ISSN-L)
  • 1522-1598
DOI
10.1152/jn.1997.77.1.24
OpenAlex
W2131744263
Cited by
1,615
References
39
Citations by year
2026: 14 · 2025: 41 · 2024: 23 · 2023: 27 · 2022: 45 · 2021: 42 · 2020: 51 · 2019: 49 · 2018: 50 · 2017: 54 · 2016: 46 · 2015: 60 · 2014: 68 · 2013: 65 · 2012: 59
FWCI
28.70
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Locations
  • Journal of Neurophysiology (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Funders
  • National Institute of Mental Health (MH-25594)
  • National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NS17778)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Visual perception and processing mechanisms
  • Physical Sciences › Computer Science › Computer Vision and Pattern Recognition › Visual Attention and Saliency Detection
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Multisensory perception and integration
Keywords
spatial selective attention, visual cortex, area V1, V2, area V4, spontaneous firing rate, macaque, extrastriate cortex
MeSH terms
Animals, Attention, Cues, Electrodes, Implanted, Evoked Potentials, Visual, Eye Movements, Macaca mulatta, Male, Neurons, Photic Stimulation, Psychomotor Performance, Space Perception, Visual Cortex

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