A neuronal basis of iconic memory in macaque primary visual cortex

Rob R.M. Teeuwen, Catherine Wacongne, Ulf H. Schnabel, Matthew W. Self, Pieter R. Roelfsema

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleAcademicpeer-review

9 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

After a briefly presented visual stimulus disappears, observers retain a detailed representation of this stimulus for a short period of time. This sensory storage is called iconic memory. We measured iconic memory in the perception of monkeys and its neuronal correlates in the primary visual cortex (area V1). We determined how many milliseconds extra viewing time iconic memory is worth and how it decays by varying the duration of a brief stimulus and the timing of a mask. The V1 activity that persists after the disappearance of a stimulus predicted accuracy, with a time course resembling the worth and decay of iconic memory. Finally, we examined how iconic memory interacts with attention. A cue presented after the stimulus disappears boosts attentional influences pertaining to a relevant part of the stimulus but only if it appears before iconic memory decayed. Our results relate iconic memory to neuronal activity in early visual cortex.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)5401-5414.e4
Number of pages19
JournalCurrent biology
Volume31
Issue number24
Early online date14 Oct 2021
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 20 Dec 2021

Keywords

  • attention
  • iconic memory
  • monkey
  • primary visual cortex
  • working memory

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