The Study on Functional Connectivity between Frontal Eye Field and Other Brain Cortex in Visual Processing

Abstract

Scientists have done many researches on human vision, they believe that computational model of human vision can inspire computer vision. FEF (Frontal Eye Field) is one of the important cortex of human being which plays a central role in the production of purposeful eye movements. A fMRI experiment was performed in this study to examine the cognitive role and functional connectivity mode between FEF and other brain cortex, such as FG (Fusiform Gyrus), PPC (Posterior Parietal Cortex) and PFC (Prefrontal Cortex). The results show that there are strong connectivity between FEF and these cortexes, and the functional connectivity pattern differs along with the complexity of task, the more complex, the higher connect intensity. Thus we infer that FEF may play an important role in visual processing not only eye movements but also high cognitive controlling. We also propose a probable reference model of visual processing which involved visual perception, visual encoding, visual imagination and declarative memorizing, FG, PPC, PFC may take part in such visual processing, and FEF may play a control role in such visual processing. Hopefully, this model could be used in computer vision processing.