Single-neuron encoding of rapidly learned visual information reshapes human perception

bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory)

Abstract

Humans can swiftly learn to recognize visual objects after minimal exposure. Integrating new information with existing knowledge requires forming enduring neuronal representations to enable future recognition. Yet, the neuronal mechanisms in the human brain underlying such rapid perceptual changes remain unclear. We recorded single-neuron activity in occipital (OC) and medial temporal lobe (MTL) regions as participants rapidly learned to recognize degraded images. OC and MTL neurons modulated their activity to encode newly learned visual information and reshape perception. Population decoding revealed that OC neurons required additional processing time to resolve the identity of learned images, delaying neuronal responses in the MTL. Our findings indicate that OC supports recognition after rapid learning via extensive recurrent processing, potentially involving higher-order neocortical areas, without relying on feedback from MTL. These results provide mechanistic constraints for biologically plausible models of visual recognition and few-shot visual learning.

Authors 10

1. Marcelo Armendáriz corresponding

   Harvard University · Boston Children's Hospital

   Affiliation as printed

   Harvard Medical School;

   Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA

   Center for Brains, Minds and Machines, Cambridge, MA, USA

2. Julie Blumberg

   University of Freiburg · University Medical Center Freiburg

   Affiliation as printed

   University Medical Center Freiburg;

   Department of Neuropediatrics and Muscle Disorders, University Medical Center Freiburg, University of Freiburg, Germany

3. Jedediah M. Singer

   Harvard University · Boston Children's Hospital

   Affiliation as printed

   Harvard Medical School;

   Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA

4. Franz Aiple

   University of Freiburg · University Medical Center Freiburg

   Affiliation as printed

   University Medical Center Freiburg;

   Department of Neurosurgery, University Medical Center Freiburg, University of Freiburg, Germany

5. Jiye Kim

   Harvard University · Boston Children's Hospital

   Affiliation as printed

   Harvard Medical School;

   Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA

6. Nuria Domıńguez-Iturza

   Harvard University · Broad Institute · Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research

   Affiliation as printed

   Harvard University

   Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA

   Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA

7. Armin Brandt

   University of Freiburg · University Medical Center Freiburg

   Affiliation as printed

   University Medical Center Freiburg;

   Epilepsy Center, University Medical Center Freiburg, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany

8. Peter Christoph Reinacher Aachen Fraunhofer Institute for Laser Technology (ILT)

   Fraunhofer Institute for Laser Technology · University of Freiburg · University Medical Center Freiburg

   Affiliation as printed

   University Medical Center Freiburg;

   Department of Stereotactic and Functional Neurosurgery, University Medical Center Freiburg, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany

   Fraunhofer Institute for Laser Technology, Aachen, Germany

9. Andreas Schulze‐Bonhage

   University of Freiburg · University Medical Center Freiburg

   Affiliation as printed

   University Medical Center Freiburg;

   Epilepsy Center, University Medical Center Freiburg, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany

10. Gabriel Kreiman

    Harvard University · Boston Children's Hospital

    Affiliation as printed

    Harvard Medical School;

    Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA

    Center for Brains, Minds and Machines, Cambridge, MA, USA