Skip to main content
bioRxiv
  • Home
  • About
  • Submit
  • ALERTS / RSS
Advanced Search
New Results

Decoding images in the mind’s eye: The temporal dynamics of visual imagery

Sophia M. Shatek, View ORCID ProfileTijl Grootswagers, View ORCID ProfileAmanda K. Robinson, View ORCID ProfileThomas A. Carlson
doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/637603
Sophia M. Shatek
1School of Psychology, University of Sydney, Australia
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Find this author on PubMed
  • Search for this author on this site
  • For correspondence: sophia.shatek@sydney.edu.au
Tijl Grootswagers
1School of Psychology, University of Sydney, Australia
2ARC Centre of Excellence in Cognition & its Disorders, Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Find this author on PubMed
  • Search for this author on this site
  • ORCID record for Tijl Grootswagers
Amanda K. Robinson
1School of Psychology, University of Sydney, Australia
2ARC Centre of Excellence in Cognition & its Disorders, Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia
3Perception in Action Research Centre & Department of Cognitive Science, Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Find this author on PubMed
  • Search for this author on this site
  • ORCID record for Amanda K. Robinson
Thomas A. Carlson
1School of Psychology, University of Sydney, Australia
2ARC Centre of Excellence in Cognition & its Disorders, Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Find this author on PubMed
  • Search for this author on this site
  • ORCID record for Thomas A. Carlson
  • Abstract
  • Full Text
  • Info/History
  • Metrics
  • Preview PDF
Loading

Abstract

Mental imagery is the ability to generate images in the mind in the absence of sensory input. Both perceptual visual processing and internally generated imagery engage large, overlapping networks of brain regions. However, it is unclear whether they are characterized by similar temporal dynamics. Recent magnetoencephalography work has shown that object category information was decodable from brain activity during mental imagery, but the timing was delayed relative to perception. The current study builds on these findings, using electroencephalography to investigate the dynamics of mental imagery. Sixteen participants viewed two images of the Sydney Harbour Bridge and two images of Santa Claus. On each trial, they viewed a sequence of the four images and were asked to imagine one of them, which was cued retroactively by its temporal location in the sequence. Time-resolved multivariate pattern analysis was used to decode the viewed and imagined stimuli. Our results indicate that the dynamics of imagery processes are more variable across, and within, participants compared to perception of physical stimuli. Although category and exemplar information was decodable for viewed stimuli, there were no informative patterns of activity during mental imagery. The current findings suggest stimulus complexity, task design and individual differences may influence the ability to successfully decode imagined images. We discuss the implications of these results for our understanding of the neural processes underlying mental imagery.

Copyright 
The copyright holder for this preprint is the author/funder, who has granted bioRxiv a license to display the preprint in perpetuity. All rights reserved. No reuse allowed without permission.
Back to top
PreviousNext
Posted May 17, 2019.
Download PDF
Email

Thank you for your interest in spreading the word about bioRxiv.

NOTE: Your email address is requested solely to identify you as the sender of this article.

Enter multiple addresses on separate lines or separate them with commas.
Decoding images in the mind’s eye: The temporal dynamics of visual imagery
(Your Name) has forwarded a page to you from bioRxiv
(Your Name) thought you would like to see this page from the bioRxiv website.
CAPTCHA
This question is for testing whether or not you are a human visitor and to prevent automated spam submissions.
Share
Decoding images in the mind’s eye: The temporal dynamics of visual imagery
Sophia M. Shatek, Tijl Grootswagers, Amanda K. Robinson, Thomas A. Carlson
bioRxiv 637603; doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/637603
Reddit logo Twitter logo Facebook logo LinkedIn logo Mendeley logo
Citation Tools
Decoding images in the mind’s eye: The temporal dynamics of visual imagery
Sophia M. Shatek, Tijl Grootswagers, Amanda K. Robinson, Thomas A. Carlson
bioRxiv 637603; doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/637603

Citation Manager Formats

  • BibTeX
  • Bookends
  • EasyBib
  • EndNote (tagged)
  • EndNote 8 (xml)
  • Medlars
  • Mendeley
  • Papers
  • RefWorks Tagged
  • Ref Manager
  • RIS
  • Zotero
  • Tweet Widget
  • Facebook Like
  • Google Plus One

Subject Area

  • Neuroscience
Subject Areas
All Articles
  • Animal Behavior and Cognition (4237)
  • Biochemistry (9155)
  • Bioengineering (6797)
  • Bioinformatics (24052)
  • Biophysics (12149)
  • Cancer Biology (9562)
  • Cell Biology (13814)
  • Clinical Trials (138)
  • Developmental Biology (7653)
  • Ecology (11729)
  • Epidemiology (2066)
  • Evolutionary Biology (15534)
  • Genetics (10663)
  • Genomics (14346)
  • Immunology (9502)
  • Microbiology (22876)
  • Molecular Biology (9113)
  • Neuroscience (49080)
  • Paleontology (357)
  • Pathology (1487)
  • Pharmacology and Toxicology (2576)
  • Physiology (3851)
  • Plant Biology (8347)
  • Scientific Communication and Education (1473)
  • Synthetic Biology (2299)
  • Systems Biology (6202)
  • Zoology (1302)