Abstract
WE often search for a face in a crowd or for a particular object in a cluttered environment. In this type of visual search, memory interacts with attention: the mediating neural mechanisms should include a stored representation of the object and a means for selecting that object from among others in the scene1–4. Here we test whether neurons in inferior temporal cortex, an area known to be important for high-level visual processing, might provide these components. Monkeys were presented with a complex picture (the cue) to hold in memory during a delay period. The cue initiated activity that persisted through the delay among the neurons that were tuned to its features. The monkeys were then given 2–5 choice pictures and were required to make an eye movement to the one (the target) that matched the cue. About 90–120 milliseconds before the onset of the eye movement to the target, responses to non-targets were suppressed and the neuronal response was dominated by the target. The results suggest that inferior temporal cortex is involved in selecting the objects to which we attend and foveate.
This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution
Access options
Subscribe to this journal
Receive 51 print issues and online access
$199.00 per year
only $3.90 per issue
Buy this article
- Purchase on Springer Link
- Instant access to full article PDF
Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Neisser, U. Am. J. Psych. 76, 316–385 (1963).
Treisman, A. Q. JI exp. Psych. 40A, 201–237 (1988).
Duncan, J. & Humphreys, G. W. Psych. Rev. 96, 433–458 (1989).
Bundesen, C. Psych. Rev. 97, 523–547 (1990).
Fuster, J. M. & Jervey, J. P. Science 212, 952–955 (1981).
Miyashita, Y. & Chang, H. S. Nature 331, 68–70 (1988).
Miller, E. K., Li, L. & Desimone, R. J. Neurosci. 13, 1460–1478 (1993).
Moran, J. & Desimone, R. Science 229, 782–784 (1985).
Sato, T. J. Neurophysiol. 60, 344–364 (1988).
Schiller, P. H. & Koerner, F. J. Neurophysiol. 34, 920–936 (1971).
Wurtz, R. H. & Goldberg, M. E. J. Neurophysiol. 35, 575–586 (1972).
Glimcher, P. W. & Sparks, D. L. Nature 355, 542–545 (1992).
Richmond, B. J., Optican, L. M. & Spitzer, H. J. Neurophysiol. 57, 132–146 (1987).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Chelazzi, L., Miller, E., Duncan, J. et al. A neural basis for visual search in inferior temporal cortex. Nature 363, 345–347 (1993). https://doi.org/10.1038/363345a0
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/363345a0
This article is cited by
-
Testing a relational account of search templates in visual foraging
Scientific Reports (2023)
-
Testing cognitive theories with multivariate pattern analysis of neuroimaging data
Nature Human Behaviour (2023)
-
Waves traveling over a map of visual space can ignite short-term predictions of sensory input
Nature Communications (2023)
-
The time-course of feature-based attention effects dissociated from temporal expectation and target-related processes
Scientific Reports (2022)
-
Professional chess expertise modulates whole brain functional connectivity pattern homogeneity and couplings
Brain Imaging and Behavior (2022)
Comments
By submitting a comment you agree to abide by our Terms and Community Guidelines. If you find something abusive or that does not comply with our terms or guidelines please flag it as inappropriate.