Neural segregation and integration of sensory, decision, and action processes during object categorization

Abstract

Neural and computational evidence suggests that perceptual decisions depend on an evidence accumulation process. The gradual reveal fMRI method, which prolongs a decision to match the slow temporal resolution of fMRI measurements, has classified dorsal visual stream regions as "Action" (alternatively, "Moment of Recognition" or "Commitment") and ventral visual stream regions as "Accumulator." Previous gradual reveal fMRI studies, however, only tested actions that were in response to decisions and, thus, related to evidence accumulation. To fully dissociate the contribution of sensory, decision, and motor components to Action and Accumulator regions in the dorsal and ventral visual streams, we extended the gradual reveal paradigm to also include responses made to cues where no decision was necessary. We found that the lateral occipital cortex in the ventral visual stream showed a highly selective Accumulator profile, whereas regions in the fusiform gyrus were influenced by action generation. Dorsal visual stream regions showed strikingly similar profiles as classical motor regions and also as regions of the salience network. These results suggest that the dorsal and ventral visual streams may appear highly segregated because they include a small number of regions that are highly selective for Accumulator or Action. However, the streams may be more integrated than previously thought and this integration may be accomplished by regions with graded responses that are less selective (i.e., more distributed).