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A new perceptual illusion reveals mechanisms of sensory decoding

Author

Listed:
  • Mehrdad Jazayeri

    (Center for Neural Science, New York University, 4 Washington Place, New York, New York 10003, USA)

  • J. Anthony Movshon

    (Center for Neural Science, New York University, 4 Washington Place, New York, New York 10003, USA)

Abstract

Levels of perception Perceptual illusions are usually thought to arise from the way sensory signals are encoded by the brain. But there is an alternative explanation. Illusions might also result from a more 'downstream' part of the neural network, at the point where the brain decodes sensory information according to the strategies suited to particular tasks. Experiments in normal subjects estimating the direction of motion of a random dot pattern relative to a fixed boundary reveal a consistent misjudgement, suggesting that the subjective experience of motion does not arise directly from the responses of sensory neurons, but develops after those responses have been decoded.

Suggested Citation

  • Mehrdad Jazayeri & J. Anthony Movshon, 2007. "A new perceptual illusion reveals mechanisms of sensory decoding," Nature, Nature, vol. 446(7138), pages 912-915, April.
  • Handle: RePEc:nat:nature:v:446:y:2007:i:7138:d:10.1038_nature05739
    DOI: 10.1038/nature05739
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    Cited by:

    1. Seth W. Egger & Stephen G. Lisberger, 2022. "Neural structure of a sensory decoder for motor control," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-13, December.
    2. Stephen Morris & Ming Yang, 2016. "Coordination and Continuous Choice," Working Papers 087_2017, Princeton University, Department of Economics, Econometric Research Program..
    3. Stephen Morris & Ming Yang, 2016. "Coordination and the Relative Cost of Distinguishing Nearby States," Working Papers 079_2016, Princeton University, Department of Economics, Econometric Research Program..
    4. Long Luu & Alan A Stocker, 2021. "Categorical judgments do not modify sensory representations in working memory," PLOS Computational Biology, Public Library of Science, vol. 17(6), pages 1-28, June.
    5. Caroline Haimerl & Douglas A. Ruff & Marlene R. Cohen & Cristina Savin & Eero P. Simoncelli, 2023. "Targeted V1 comodulation supports task-adaptive sensory decisions," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-15, December.
    6. Wenhao Li & Jianyu Lu & Zikang Zhu & Yong Gu, 2022. "Causal contribution of optic flow signal in Macaque extrastriate visual cortex for roll perception," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-17, December.
    7. Andra Mihali & Marianne Broeker & Florian D. M. Ragalmuto & Guillermo Horga, 2023. "Introspective inference counteracts perceptual distortion," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-24, December.

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