Abstract
Many studies have found that visual cortical areas are active during tactile perception. Here we used positron emission tomographic (PET) scanning in normally sighted humans to show that extrastriate cortical regions are recruited in a task-specific manner during perceptual processing of tactile stimuli varying in two dimensions. Mental rotation of tactile Forms activated a focus around the anterior part of the left intraparietal sulcus. Since prior studies have reported activity nearby during mental rotation of visual stimuli, this focus appears to be associated with the dorsal visual (visuospatial) pathway. Discrimination between tactile Forms activated the right lateral occipital complex, an object-selective region in the ventral visual (visual Form) pathway. Thus, tactile tasks appear to recruit cortical regions that are active during corresponding visual tasks. Activation of these areas in both visual and tactile tasks could reflect visual imagery during tactile perception, activity in multisensory representations, or both.
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.