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Layer-dependent multiplicative effects of spatial attention on contrast responses in human early visual cortex

Fanhua Guo, Chengwen Liu, Chencan Qian, Zihao Zhang, Kaibao Sun, Danny JJ Wang, Sheng He, View ORCID ProfilePeng Zhang
doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/2020.02.01.926303
Fanhua Guo
Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences;
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  • For correspondence: 493991861@qq.com
Chengwen Liu
Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences;
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  • For correspondence: cwliu1212@163.com
Chencan Qian
Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences;
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  • For correspondence: qianchencan@gmail.com
Zihao Zhang
Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences;
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  • For correspondence: zhzhang@bcslab.ibp.ac.cn
Kaibao Sun
Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences;
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  • For correspondence: kbsun@bcslab.ibp.ac.cn
Danny JJ Wang
Stevens Neuroimaging and Informatics Institute, University of Southern California;
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  • For correspondence: dannyjwa@usc.edu
Sheng He
Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences;
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  • For correspondence: shenghemn@gmail.com
Peng Zhang
Chinese Academy of Sciences
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  • ORCID record for Peng Zhang
  • For correspondence: zhangpeng@ibp.ac.cn
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Abstract

Attention mechanisms at different cortical layers of human visual cortex remain poorly understood. Using submillimeter-resolution fMRI at 7T, we investigated the effects of top-down spatial attention on the contrast responses across different cortical depths in human early visual cortex. Gradient echo (GE) T2* weighted BOLD signal showed an additive effect of attention on contrast responses across cortical depths. Compared to the middle cortical depth, attention modulation was stronger in the superficial and deep depths of V1, and also stronger in the superficial depth of V2 and V3. Using ultra-high resolution (0.3mm in-plane) balanced steady-state free precession (bSSFP) fMRI, a multiplicative scaling effect of attention was found in the superficial and deep layers, but not in the middle layer of V1. Attention modulation of low contrast response was strongest in the middle cortical depths, indicating baseline enhancement or contrast gain of attention modulation on feedforward input. Finally, the additive effect of attention on T2* BOLD can be explained by strong nonlinearity of BOLD signals from large blood vessels, suggesting multiplicative effect of attention on neural activity. These findings support that top-down spatial attention mainly operates through feedback connections from higher order cortical areas, and a distinct mechanism of attention may also be associated with feedforward input through subcortical pathway.

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Posted February 02, 2020.
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Layer-dependent multiplicative effects of spatial attention on contrast responses in human early visual cortex
Fanhua Guo, Chengwen Liu, Chencan Qian, Zihao Zhang, Kaibao Sun, Danny JJ Wang, Sheng He, Peng Zhang
bioRxiv 2020.02.01.926303; doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/2020.02.01.926303
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Layer-dependent multiplicative effects of spatial attention on contrast responses in human early visual cortex
Fanhua Guo, Chengwen Liu, Chencan Qian, Zihao Zhang, Kaibao Sun, Danny JJ Wang, Sheng He, Peng Zhang
bioRxiv 2020.02.01.926303; doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/2020.02.01.926303

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