Synchronization and stochasticity of neural activity in perceptual alternation of ambiguous figures

Author

Murata, Tsutomu ; Isokawa, Teijiro ; Ogawa, Yuzo ; Matsui, Nobuyuki ; Yanagida, Toshio

Author_Institution

Commun. Res. Lab., Kansai Adv. Res. Center, Kobe, Japan

fYear

2001

fDate

2001

Firstpage

86

Lastpage

91

Abstract

A dynamical neural network model is presented to show critical roles of neural synchronization and stochastic noise in perceptual alternation of ambiguous figures. In the model a coherent percept is represented by synchronized activity of neurons, and perceptual alternation is caused by exclusive activation of two possible percepts of an ambiguous figure. We show that stochastic fluctuation (noise) added to neural activity plays an essential role in obtaining perceptual alternation. We also complete a psychophysical investigation of alternation distributions, which demonstrates that perceptual alternation is caused by a certain kind of stochastic dynamics in the brain

Keywords

neural nets; noise; stochastic processes; visual perception; alternation distribution8; ambiguous figures; brain; coherent percept; critical roles; dynamical neural network model; exclusive activation; neural activity stochasticity; neural synchronization; perceptual alternation; psychophysical investigation; stochastic dynamics; stochastic fluctuation; stochastic noise; synchronization; synchronized activity; Biological neural networks; Computer networks; Fluctuations; Frequency; Neurons; Noise figure; Physiology; Psychology; Stochastic resonance; Visual system;

fLanguage

English

Publisher

ieee

Conference_Titel

Robot and Human Interactive Communication, 2001. Proceedings. 10th IEEE International Workshop on

Conference_Location

Bordeaux, Paris

Print_ISBN

0-7803-7222-0

Type

conf

DOI

10.1109/ROMAN.2001.981883

Filename

981883