Enhanced Neural Processing by Covert Attention only during Microsaccades Directed toward the Attended Stimulus

Neuron. 2018 Jul 11;99(1):207-214.e3. doi: 10.1016/j.neuron.2018.05.041. Epub 2018 Jun 21.

Abstract

Attention can be "covertly" directed without eye movements; yet, even during fixation, there are continuous microsaccades (MSs). In areas V4 and IT of macaques, we found that firing rates and stimulus representations were enhanced by attention but only following a MS toward the attended stimulus. The onset of neural attentional modulations was tightly coupled to the MS onset. The results reveal a major link between the effects of covert attention on cortical visual processing and the overt movement of the eyes.

Keywords: IT; V4; attention; firing rate; microsaccades; object decoding; oculomotor system; visual cortex.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Attention / physiology*
  • Macaca mulatta
  • Neurons / physiology*
  • Photic Stimulation
  • Saccades / physiology*
  • Visual Cortex / cytology
  • Visual Cortex / physiology*
  • Visual Fields
  • Visual Perception / physiology