Processing of images of bodies in the human visual cortex

What is it about?

Recordings of the electrical activity of individual neurons in humans are exceedingly rare. Therefore, most of what we know about the functioning of the brain at the level of single neurons is derived from studies in animals. This paper presents the results of exceptional recordings in two epilepsy patients, who were implanted with electrodes in their brain to localize the source of their seizures. The authors show that neurons in a specific area of the human brain respond strongly to images of bodies and body parts, and even to simple stick figures depicting a human body.

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Photo by Natasha Connell on Unsplash

Photo by Natasha Connell on Unsplash

Why is it important?

Imaging studies in human volunteers had already suggested the presence of an area in the human brain that is specifically involved in the visual processing of images of bodies. This study provides crucial validation of this hypothesis at the level of individual neurons for the previous imaging studies, and bridges the gap between imaging studies in humans and single-cell recordings in monkeys. The study clearly demonstrates that the properties of neurons responding to bodies and body parts in humans are virtually identical to the ones of neurons previously recorded in our closest relative, the macaque monkey. Therefore, it also supports the validity of this animal model in visual neuroscience.

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