Neuroscience Study Reveals Shared Neurons for Visual Perception and Mental Imagery

A research article published in Science on April 9 indicates that both viewing and imagining objects engage similar neural pathways in the brain. The study involved 16 epilepsy patients who had electrodes implanted, allowing for the recording of over 700 neurons each. Researchers concentrated on the ventral temporal cortex, discovering that more than 60% of the neurons responded to certain categories of images, with 80% of that group reacting to specific attributes. In a subsequent analysis with six participants, around 40% of neurons were activated when visualizing objects they had previously encountered. Varun Wadia, the lead researcher from Cedars-Sinai, suggests this could benefit treatments for psychiatric disorders like schizophrenia and memory issues such as dementia. Co-author Ueli Rutishauser highlights its significance for mental health. The findings reinforce the concept that the brain reactivates neural codes during mental imagery.