Abstract A key characteristic of human brain activity is coherent, spatially distributed oscillations forming behaviour-dependent networks. However, a fundamental principle underlying these networks remains unknown. Here we report that functional the are predicted by harmonic patterns, ubiquitous throughout nature, steered anatomy cerebral cortex, connectome. We introduce new technique extending Fourier basis to In this frequency-specific representation cortical activity, call ‘connectome...

The possible ways that information can be represented mentally have been discussed often over the past thousand years. However, this issue could not addressed rigorously until late in 20th century. Initial empirical findings spurred a debate about heterogeneity of mental representation: Is all stored propositional, language-like, symbolic internal representations, or humans use at least two different types representations (and possibly many more)? Here, historical context, we describe recent...

Abstract For most people, visual imagery is an innate feature of many our internal experiences, and appears to play a critical role in supporting core cognitive processes. Some individuals, however, lack the ability voluntarily generate altogether – condition termed “aphantasia”. Recent research suggests that aphantasia defined by absence imagery, rather than metacognitive awareness imagery. Here we further illustrate “fingerprint” aphantasia, demonstrating compared control participants with...

One proposed function of imagery is to make thoughts more emotionally evocative through sensory simulation, which can be helpful both in planning for future events and remembering the past, but also a hindrance when become overwhelming maladaptive, such as anxiety disorders. Here, we report novel test this theory using special population with no visual imagery: aphantasia. After multi-method verification aphantasia, show that condition, not general population, associated flat-line...

The pupillary light response is an important automatic physiological which optimizes reaching the retina. Recent work has shown that pupil also adjusts in to illusory brightness and a range of cognitive functions, however, it remains unclear what exactly drives these endogenous changes. Here, we show imagery correlates with objective measures sensory strength. Further, trial-by-trial phenomenological vividness visual tracked by response. We demonstrated group individuals without (aphantasia)...

When sensory input allows for multiple, competing perceptual interpretations, observers9 perception can fluctuate over time, which is called bistable perception. Imaging studies in humans have revealed transient responses a right-lateralized network the frontal-parietal cortex (rFPC) around time of transitions between potentially reflecting neural initiation transitions. We investigated role this activity male human observers, with specific interest its relation to temporal structure...

Visual working memory provides an essential link between past and future events. Despite recent efforts, capacity limits, their genesis the underlying neural structures of visual remain unclear. Here we show that performance in memory--but not iconic memory--can be predicted by strength mental imagery as assessed with binocular rivalry a given individual. In addition, for individuals strong imagery, modulating background luminance diminished on tasks, but number strings. This suggests...

Despite mental imagery's ubiquitous role in human perception, cognition and behavior, one standout question remains unanswered: Why does imagery vary so much from individual to the next? Here, we used a behavioral paradigm that measures functional impact of image on subsequent conscious perception related these anatomy early visual cortex estimated by fMRI retinotopic mapping. We observed negative relationship between primary (V1) surface area sensory strength, but found positive...

Can people evaluate phenomenal qualities of internally generated experiences, such as whether a mental image is vivid or detailed? This question exemplifies problem metacognition: How well do know their own thoughts? In the study reported here, participants were instructed to imagine specific visual pattern and rate its vividness, after which they presented with an ambiguous rivalry display that consisted previously imagined plus orthogonal pattern. On individual trials, higher ratings...

Abstract How much we can actively hold in mind is severely limited and differs greatly from one person to the next. Why some individuals have greater capacities than others largely unknown. Here, investigated why such large variations visual working memory (VWM) capacity might occur, by examining relationship between mental imagery. To assess participants were required remember orientation of a number Gabor patches make subsequent judgments about relative changes orientation. The sensory...

While completing a science test and survey, 155 high school students wore biometric wristband (measuring electrodermal activity; EDA) self-reported their self-efficacy anxiety. Adopting challenge-threat appraisal perspective latent profile analysis, we explored how were psychologically (self-efficacy, anxiety) physiologically (EDA) oriented to science. We identified three groups (profiles), representing different profiles. The largest group was the 'composed challenge-and-threat' (modest...

Visual hallucinations occur when our conscious experience does not accurately reflect external reality. However, these dissociations also regularly we imagine the world around us in absence of visual stimulation. We used two novel behavioural paradigms to objectively measure and voluntary mental imagery 19 individuals with Parkinson's disease (ten hallucinations; nine without) ten healthy, age-matched controls. then this overlap interrogate connectivity both within between major attentional...

Abstract Is it possible to predict the freely chosen content of voluntary imagery from prior neural signals? Here we show that and strength future can be decoded activity patterns in visual frontal areas well before participants engage imagery. Participants chose which two images imagine. Using functional magnetic resonance (fMRI) multi-voxel pattern analysis, as far 11 seconds decision, visual, subcortical areas. Decoding addition perception-imagery generalization suggested predictive...

The ability to remember and manipulate visual information is pervasive associated with many cognitive abilities. Yet despite the importance of working memory (VWM), there little consensus among researchers in field as which neural areas are necessary sufficient models best describe its capacity. Here, we propose that an assumption all people same way has led much contention inconsistencies field. By accepting multiple strategies methods perform a VWM task, introduce individual “precision”...

Mental imagery provides an essential simulation tool for remembering the past and planning future, with its strength affecting both cognition mental health. Research suggests that neural activity spanning prefrontal, parietal, temporal, visual areas supports generation of images. Exactly how this network controls remains unknown. Here, brain imaging transcranial magnetic phosphene data show lower resting excitability levels in early cortex (V1-V3) predict stronger sensory imagery. Further,...