Neural model of first-order and second-order motion perception and magnocellular dynamics

A neural model of motion perception simulates psychophysical data concernin g first-order and second-order motion stimuli, including the reversal of pe rceived motion direction with distance from the stimulus (Gamma display), a nd data about directional judgments as a function of relative spatial phase or spatial and temporal frequency. Many other second-order motion percepts that have been ascribed to a second non-Fourier processing stream can also be explained in the model by interactions between ON and OFF cells within a single; neurobiologically interpreted magnocellular processing stream. Ye t other percepts may be traced to interactions between form and motion proc essing streams, rather than to processing within multiple motion processing streams. The model hereby explains why monkeys with lesions of the parvoce llular layers, but not of the magnocellular layers, of the lateral genicula te nucleus (LGN) are capable of detecting the correct direction of second-o rder motion, why most cells in area MT are sensitive to both first-order an d second-order motion, and why after 2-amino-4-phosphonobutyrate injection selectively blocks retinal ON bipolar cells, cortical cells are sensitive o nly to the motion of a moving bright bar's trailing edge. Magnocellular LGN cells show relatively transient responses, whereas parvocellular LGN cells show relatively sustained responses. Correspondingly, the model bases its directional estimates on the outputs of model ON and OFF transient cells th at are organized in opponent circuits wherein antagonistic rebounds occur i n response to stimulus offset. Center-surround interactions convert these O N and OFF outputs into responses of lightening and darkening cells that are sensitive both to direct inputs and to rebound responses in their receptiv e field centers and surrounds. The total pattern of activity increments and decrements is used by subsequent processing stages (spatially short-range filters, competitive interactions, spatially long-range filters, and direct ional grouping cells) to determine the perceived direction of motion. (C) 1 999 Optical Society of America [S0740-3232(99)02105-5].