biostudies-literatureMeyer TNEI NIH HHSNCRR NIH HHSNIMH NIH HHS1388-94https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC4613775biostudies-literatureUnknown17(10)Repeated viewing of an image over days and weeks induces a marked reduction in the strength with which neurons in monkey inferotemporal cortex respond to it. The processing advantage that attaches to this reduction is unknown. One possibility is that truncation of the response to a familiar image leaves neurons in a state of readiness to respond to ensuing images and thereby enhances their ability to track rapidly changing displays. We explored this possibility by assessing neuronal responses to familiar and novel images in rapid serial visual displays. Inferotemporal neurons responded more strongly to familiar than to novel images in such displays. The effect was stronger among putative inhibitory neurons than among putative excitatory neurons. A comparable effect occurred at the level of the scalp potential in humans. We conclude that long-term familiarization sharpens the response dynamics of neurons in both monkey and human extrastriate visual cortex.Nature neuroscienceImage familiarization sharpens response dynamics of neurons in inferotemporal cortex.PMC4613775K08 MH080329P50 MH084053P30 EY008098P41RR03631R01 EY018620R01 EY024912P30 EY08098Meyer TOlson CRWalker CCho RYfalseImage familiarization sharpens response dynamics of neurons in inferotemporal cortex.Repeated viewing of an image over days and weeks induces a marked reduction in the strength with which neurons in monkey inferotemporal cortex respond to it. The processing advantage that attaches to this reduction is unknown. One possibility is that truncation of the response to a familiar image leaves neurons in a state of readiness to respond to ensuing images and thereby enhances their ability to track rapidly changing displays. We explored this possibility by assessing neuronal responses to familiar and novel images in rapid serial visual displays. Inferotemporal neurons responded more strongly to familiar than to novel images in such displays. The effect was stronger among putative inhibitory neurons than among putative excitatory neurons. A comparable effect occurred at the level of the scalp potential in humans. We conclude that long-term familiarization sharpens the response dynamics of neurons in both monkey and human extrastriate visual cortex.2014-01-01T00:00:00Z2014 Oct2024-11-12T18:38:15.046Z2019-03-27T02:00:27ZS-EPMC46137752515126310.1038/nn.3794