Temporal dynamics of visual category representation in the macaque inferior temporal cortex

Object categories are recognized at multiple levels of hierarchical abstractions. Psychophysical studies have shown a more rapid perceptual access to the mid level category information (e.g. human faces) than the higher (superordinate; e.g. animal) or the lower (subordinate; e.g. face identity) levels. Mid level category members share many features while few features are shared between members of different mid level categories. To better understand the neural basis of expedited access to mid level category information we examined neural responses of the inferior temporal (IT) cortex of macaque monkeys viewing a large number of object images. We found an earlier representation of mid level categories in the IT population and single unit responses compared to superordinate and subordinate level categories. The short latency representation of mid level category information shows that visual cortex first divides the category shape space at its sharpest boundaries defined by high/low within/between group similarity. This short latency mid level category boundary map may be prerequisite for representation of other categories at more global and finer scales.

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