Ultra-High-Field Neuroimaging Reveals Fine-Scale Processing for 3D Perception
Adrian K. T. Ng, Ke Jia, Nuno Reis Goncalves, Elisa Zamboni, Valentin G. Kemper, Rainer Goebel, Andrew E. Welchman, Zoe Kourtzi
Abstract
Binocular vision plays a significant role in supporting our interactions with the surrounding environment. The fine-scale neural mechanisms that underlie the brain's skill in extracting 3D structures from binocular signals are poorly understood. Here, we capitalize on recent advances in ultra-high-field functional imaging to interrogate human brain circuits involved in 3D perception at submillimeter resolution. We provide evidence for the role of area V3A as a key nexus for disparity processing, which is implicated in feedforward and feedback signals related to the perceptual estimation of 3D structures from binocular signals. These fine-scale measurements help bridge the gap between animal neurophysiology and human fMRI studies investigating cross-scale circuits, from micro circuits to global brain networks for 3D perception.