Neural correlates of binding features within- or cross-dimensions in visual conjunction search: An fMRI study

The fMRI technique was used to investigate the functional neuroanatomy of binding features within- or cross-dimension during visual conjunction search. Participants were asked to perform feature search (FS; e.g., search for a vertical bar among tilted bars), within-dimension search (WS; e.g., search for an upright T among non-target oriented Ts and Ls), cross-dimension search (CS; e.g., search for an orange vertical bar among blue vertical bars and orange tilted bars), and complex search combining within- and cross-dimension features (WCS; e.g., search for an orange upright T among orange leftward Ts and blue Ls). Reaction times (RTs) taken to decide whether a target was present or absent were faster in the FS than in the WS, CS, and WCS conditions, but did not differ between the latter three conditions. Neuroimaging results revealed a set of fronto-parietal regions, including frontal eye field and intraparietal sulcus, to be consistently activated in conjunction search (WS, CS, and WCS) relative to feature search, suggesting that these regions play a more prominent role in matching visual input against the target template in conjunction search. Furthermore, left occipito-temporal cortex was more activated in within-dimension conjunction search, and bilateral intraparietal sulci were more activated in cross-dimension conjunction search. This suggests that features from the same dimension are 'bound' at a higher stage of the ventral pathway by conjoining the inputs from lower-level neurons, whereas neurons along the intraparietal sulcus appear to be necessary for discerning the presence of cross-dimensional conjunctions.

Research highlights► Participants performed feature search and different types of conjunction search. ► Fronto-parietal regions were activated in conjunction relative to feature search. ► Left occipito-temporal cortex was more activated for within-dimension conjunctions. ► Bilateral intraparietal sulci were more activated for cross-dimension conjunctions.