Transient interhemispheric neuronal synchrony correlates with object recognition

Object recognition might be achieved by the recreation of a meaningful inte rnal image from visual fragments. This recreation might be achieved by neur onal synchronization that has been proposed as a solution for the perceptua l binding problem. In this study, we evaluated synchronization between the occipitotemporal regions bilaterally using electroencephalograms during sev eral visual recognition tasks. Conscious recognition of familiar objects sp anning the visual midline induced transient interhemispheric electroencepha lographic coherence in the alpha band, which did not occur with meaningless objects or with passive viewing. Moreover, there was no interhemispheric c oherence when midline objects were not recognized as meaningful or when fam iliar objects were presented in one visual hemifield. These data suggest a close link between site-specific interregional synchronization and object r ecognition.