Individual differences in visual motion perception and neurotransmitter concentrations in the human brain

Summary & key facts

The study tested why people differ in how they see motion. Participants viewed the same moving images but some reported motion assimilation and others motion contrast. The researchers measured brain chemicals with magnetic resonance spectroscopy and found that higher levels of the excitatory chemical glutamate–glutamine (Glx) in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (Brodmann area 46) were linked to a greater tendency to report motion assimilation. This Glx link was not found in visual brain areas, and the inhibitory chemical GABA showed only a weak effect.

Key facts:

• The study compared two motion perceptions called motion assimilation and motion contrast; different participants reported one or the other when shown the same stimulus.
• Neurotransmitter concentrations were measured using magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS).
• Higher concentrations of glutamate–glutamine (Glx) in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (Brodmann area 46) were positively correlated with a tendency to perceive motion assimilation rather than motion contrast.
• The same positive Glx–perception correlation was not observed in visual cortical areas examined in the study.
• The inhibitory neurotransmitter GABA had only a weak relationship with the motion-perception differences compared with the Glx effect.

Topics

Neurobiology and Insect Physiology Research Olfactory and Sensory Function Studies Visual perception and processing mechanisms

Categories

Cognitive Neuroscience Life Sciences Neuroscience

Tags

Biology Central nervous system Dopamine Human brain Motion perception Neuroscience Neurotransmitter Neurotransmitter Agents Neurotransmitter systems Perception Psychology Visual perception