The chronometry of single neuron activity: testing discrete and continuous models of information processing.

The authors propose to study information transmission by comparing the effects of experimental factors on reaction time (RT) with the latency of the changes in activity of single-neurons. An experiment was conducted in which a monkey (Macaca mulatta) performed a tactilo-manual 2-choice RT task and t...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Publicado en:Journal of Experimental Psychology. Human Perception & Performance Vol. 26; no. 5; pp. 1622 - 1639
Autores principales: Mouret, Isabelle, Hasbroucq, Thierry
Formato: Artículo
Publicado: American Psychological Association October 2000
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Acceso en línea:Ver este registro en EBSCOhost
Descripción
Sumario:The authors propose to study information transmission by comparing the effects of experimental factors on reaction time (RT) with the latency of the changes in activity of single-neurons. An experiment was conducted in which a monkey (Macaca mulatta) performed a tactilo-manual 2-choice RT task and the compatibility of the stimulus-response mapping was manipulated. Task-related neurons were recorded in the monkey's primary somesthetic and motor cortices. The changes in activity of 105 of these neurons were classified either as sensory-like or as motor-like. The sensory-like changes occurred before the motor-like ones. The stimulus-response mapping exerted its entire effect on the RT after the sensory-like changes and before the motor-like ones. These findings suggest that the information was transmitted discretely from the processes affected by the mapping to the processes implemented by the motor-like changes. Reprinted by permission of the publisher.