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Open Access 01-12-2021 | Review

An egocentric straight-ahead bias in primate’s vision

Authors: Benoit R. Cottereau, Yves Trotter, Jean-Baptiste Durand

Published in: Brain Structure and Function | Issue 9/2021

Abstract

As we plan to reach or manipulate objects, we generally orient our body so as to face them. Other objects occupying the same portion of space will likely represent potential obstacles for the intended action. Thus, either as targets or as obstacles, the objects located straight in front of us are often endowed with a special behavioral status. Here, we review a set of recent electrophysiological, imaging and behavioral studies bringing converging evidence that the objects which lie straight-ahead are subject to privileged visual processing. More precisely, these works collectively demonstrate that when gaze steers central vision away from the straight-ahead direction, the latter is still prioritized in peripheral vision. Straight-ahead objects evoke (1) stronger neuronal responses in macaque peripheral V1 neurons, (2) stronger EEG and fMRI activations across the human visual cortex and (3) faster reactive hand and eye movements. Here, we discuss the functional implications and underlying mechanisms behind this phenomenon. Notably, we propose that it can be considered as a new type of visuospatial attentional mechanism, distinct from the previously documented classes of endogenous and exogenous attention.

In this review, the term ‘gaze direction’ refers to the position of the eyes with respect to the head.

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Title: An egocentric straight-ahead bias in primate’s vision
Authors: Benoit R. Cottereau
Yves Trotter
Jean-Baptiste Durand
Publication date: 01-12-2021
Publisher: Springer Berlin Heidelberg
Published in: Brain Structure and Function / Issue 9/2021
Print ISSN: 1863-2653
Electronic ISSN: 1863-2661
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00429-021-02314-8

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