Fundamental to visual object recognition is the ability to recognize abstract categories of objects (e.g., cups versus pens) as well as specific exemplars within those categories (e.g., individual pens). Interestingly, this ability poses a dilemma for the visual system: How can it recognize that two shapes should be considered the same (i.e., belong to the same abstract category) yet also different (i.e., correspond to different exemplars)? The aim of the proposed work is to investigate how the human brain may implement a solution to this problems. In particular, the goal is to uncover the architecture of functionally defined, neurally dissociable subsystems that underlie object recognition, and to determine whether this architecture reflects a solution to the abstract/specific dilemma. Understanding the structure of component subsystems has primary importance, as it must be addressed before satisfactory answers can be offered for contemporary questions in this field; different answers may apply to different subsystems. Preliminary studies indicate that dissociable subsystems learn to operate in parallel to accomplish abstract-category and specific-exemplar recognition of visual objects. However, it is difficult to produce fail-safe dissociations of functionally specified subsystems, and other architectures remain viable as alternative theories (e.g., dissociable subsystems operating in sequence, a single general-purpose mechanism, attention to different information within a single subsystem). Thus, the proposed research will further test and refine these theories, using a converging evidence attack to draw strong conclusions. The research will integrate analyses of the goals of the visual system with evidence of the neural implementation of dissociable subsystems to constrain such theories. Divided-visual-field studies will test whether abstract-category and specific-exemplar recognition subsystems operate in parallel (rather than in sequence) and with different relative efficiencies in the left and right cerebral hemispheres. They also will test the particular levels of categorization performed by abstract and specific subsystems, whether stimulus and task demands influence the relative contributions of these subsystems in predictable ways, as well as whether these subsystems utilize contradictory processing strategies (e.g., features-based versus whole-based processing). Overall, should evidence for dissociable parallel subsystems be observed, object recognition theories that attempt to account for performance through different architectures would have to be significantly revised. In any case, this research should lead to a greater understanding of the component subsystems underlying visual object recognition, with implications for addressing why neurological damage can produce selective visual recognition impairments and for suggesting useful architectures in computer vision systems.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)
Type
Small Research Grants (R03)
Project #
1R03MH060442-01A1
Application #
6131974
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (ZRG1-BBBP-4 (01))
Program Officer
Kurtzman, Howard S
Project Start
2000-07-12
Project End
2002-06-30
Budget Start
2000-07-12
Budget End
2001-06-30
Support Year
1
Fiscal Year
2000
Total Cost
$67,687
Indirect Cost
Name
University of Minnesota Twin Cities
Department
Psychology
Type
Schools of Arts and Sciences
DUNS #
168559177
City
Minneapolis
State
MN
Country
United States
Zip Code
55455
McMenamin, Brenton W; Deason, Rebecca G; Steele, Vaughn R et al. (2015) Separability of abstract-category and specific-exemplar visual object subsystems: evidence from fMRI pattern analysis. Brain Cogn 93:54-63
Marsolek, Chad J; Deason, Rebecca G; Ketz, Nicholas A et al. (2010) Identifying objects impairs knowledge of other objects: a relearning explanation for the neural repetition effect. Neuroimage 49:1919-32
Snyder, Kelly A; Blank, Michael P; Marsolek, Chad J (2008) What form of memory underlies novelty preferences? Psychon Bull Rev 15:315-21
Marsolek, Chad J; Burgund, E Darcy (2008) Dissociable neural subsystems underlie visual working memory for abstract categories and specific exemplars. Cogn Affect Behav Neurosci 8:17-24
Marsolek, Chad J; Andresen, David R (2005) Interactive visual and postvisual processes and their roles in form-specific memory. Can J Exp Psychol 59:109-23
Andresen, David R; Marsolek, Chad J (2005) Does a causal relation exist between the functional hemispheric asymmetries of visual processing subsystems? Brain Cogn 59:135-44
Marsolek, Chad J; Burgund, E Darcy (2005) Initial storage of unfamiliar objects: examining memory stores with signal detection analyses. Acta Psychol (Amst) 119:81-106
Marsolek, Chad (2004) Abstractionist versus exemplar-based theories of visual word priming: a subsystems resolution. Q J Exp Psychol A 57:1233-59
Westerberg, Carmen E; Marsolek, Chad J (2003) Hemispheric asymmetries in memory processes as measured in a false recognition paradigm. Cortex 39:627-42
Westerberg, Carmen E; Marsolek, Chad J (2003) Sensitivity reductions in false recognition: a measure of false memories with stronger theoretical implications. J Exp Psychol Learn Mem Cogn 29:747-59

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