The analysis of visual motion: a comparison of neuronal and psychophysical performance

• DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.12-12-04745.1992
• Publication Date: 2018-03-30T23:55:53Z
• Authors: KH Britten; MN Shadlen; WT Newsome; JA Movshon
• Keywords: Psychometric function; Two-alternative forced choice; Sensory threshold

We compared the ability of psychophysical observers and single cortical neurons to discriminate weak motion signals in a stochastic visual display. All data were obtained from rhesus monkeys trained perform direction discrimination task near threshold. The conditions for such comparison ideal that both physiological same animals, on sets trials, using In addition, was tailored each experiment properties neuron under study; display matched neuron's preference size, speed, motion. Under these conditions, sensitivity most MT very similar animal observers. fact, responses typically provided satisfactory account absolute threshold shape psychometric function relating performance strength signal. Thus, decisions our are likely be based upon relatively small number neural signals. These could carried by if pooled statistically independent. Alternatively, may much larger pool their partially intercorrelated.