The detection and segmentation of meaningful figures from their background is one of the primary functions of vision. While work in nonhuman primates has implicated early visual mechanisms in this figure–ground modulation, neuroimaging in humans has instead largely ascribed the processing of figures and objects to higher stages of the visual hierarchy. Here, we used high-field fMRI at 7 Tesla to measure BOLD responses to task-irrelevant orientation-defined figures in human early visual cortex (N = 6, four females). We used a novel population receptive field mapping-based approach to resolve the spatial profiles of two constituent mechanisms of figure–ground modulation: a local boundary response, and a further enhancement spanning the full extent of the figure region that is driven by global differences in features. Reconstructing the distinct spatial profiles of these effects reveals that figure enhancement modulates responses in human early visual cortex in a manner consistent with a mechanism of automatic, contextually driven feedback from higher visual areas.

SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT A core function of the visual system is to parse complex 2D input into meaningful figures. We do so constantly and seamlessly, both by processing information about visible edges and by analyzing large-scale differences between figure and background. While influential neurophysiology work has characterized an intriguing mechanism that enhances V1 responses to perceptual figures, we have a poor understanding of how the early visual system contributes to figure–ground processing in humans. Here, we use advanced computational analysis methods and high-field human fMRI data to resolve the distinct spatial profiles of local edge and global figure enhancement in the early visual system (V1 and LGN); the latter is distinct and consistent with a mechanism of automatic, stimulus-driven feedback from higher-level visual areas.

It’s been around for thousands of years; the UN General Assembly named an international year for it in 2013; and now it has been sent into space. Quinoa is a superfood in more ways than one. It is a good source of protein, the highest of all the whole grains; and its edible seeds provide all of the essential amino acids the body [...]

Here's what you need to know to preserve your copy of history

On July 31, 1971, Al Worden performed the first deep-space extra-vehicular activity. "No one in all of history" saw what he saw that day

Starved of resources, these hardy bacteria still eke out a living, suggesting life forms could survive in the harsh habitats on other planets

Traditionalist "two-spacers" can still disable the function

A rare bloom of microscopic organisms capable of making their own blue light has transformed several of the state’s beaches

Catch the musical event, featuring Sting, Death Cab for Cutie front man Ben Gibbard and other artists, on YouTube tonight at 8 p.m. Eastern time

<span class="topsy_trackback_comment"><span class="topsy_twitter_username"><span class="topsy_trackback_content">Connecticut statue unveiled at its new home – Richmond Times Dispatch http://bit.ly/9LUBTy #IMCRadio.net</span></span>

The Art Zone is a place where teens can creatively express themselves and their worship for God. For Saskia, art is a way to quiet her mind and let God speak.

Open for visitors, these houses model upcycling at its finest

See the Full Flower Moon, last supermoon of 2020, bloom in these stunning photos  Space.comIn Pictures: 'Full-flower supermoon' amid coronavirus lockdowns  Aljazeera.comIn pics | Last supermoon in 2020: Stunning views from around th...

Players from La Liga side Eibar have issued a joint statement expressing their concerns about returning to training and matches while the new coronavirus remains a threat.

"This video footage clearly shows why La Loche Saskatchewan won't be opening up so soon," says Rita Briggs.

The chief of Millbrook First Nation says the Nova Scotia RCMP's competition for its new communication centre was "distorted and biased," arbitrarily inflating the price of his community's proposal to reach a "predetermined outcome."

Laurent Duvernay-Tardif and the Kansas City Chiefs have agreed to a restructured deal for the Canadian offensive lineman.

Squarespace offers numerous useful tools for building attractive, functional sites for personal and small business use. Users will need to rebuild their sites if they want to upgrade to the latest version of the service, however.

Learn how to use a transparent background to add your renders on top of an existing image or background.

Author information

The post SOLIDWORKS Tech Tip – Using a Transparent Background appeared first on SOLIDWORKS Tech Blog.

German translation of the BIS press release about the BIS Quarterly Review, December 2017

God answers a long-term worker’s prayer for an outreach day in Spain, connecting her with people from her host country in North Africa.

CONTEXT:

Research reveals racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic disparities in autism diagnosis; there is limited information on potential disparities related to other dimensions of services.

We find out how youngsters in Spain are taught a certain playing style from an early age.

We investigate a golden era of Spanish youth football.

Shetland paella puts a Scottish spin on this seafood favourite. "This was the last dish I cooked on the trip and it really summed up the amazing produce they have in this part of the world, featuring both local fish and shellfish," says chef James Martin, recalling the adventures he had making his Islands To Highlands series.

STYLE AND SUBSTANCE

THE SCOTTISH Government has been urged to empower the country’s towns and cities can be transformed into healthier hubs for walking and cycling amid the Covid-19 pandemic.

SCOTLAND’S towns and cities have seen a “stark decrease” in toxic traffic fumes since the coronavirus lockdown came into force.

Affinity groups known as caucuses let teacher-candidates at the University of Washington gather with others who share part of their identity, such as race, ethnicity, gender, or sexual orientation.

While the Trump administration proposal would not strip student eligibility for Head Start, the federal school lunch program, or the Individual with Disabilities Education Act, it could still affect millions of school-aged children who live with immigrant parents.

Born: July 9, 1938;

In a national survey, we dug into how teachers use language to make sense of disparities in student outcomes by race and income level.

Castilla y León made an impressive start to their bid for a second UEFA Regions' Cup title as two goals from Roberto García Puente set them on course for a 4-1 victory.

The Florida Department of Education is in a bitter dispute with a software company it hired to create online resources aligned with the standards for teachers and students.

A group of young people were filmed taunting a Native American man and military veteran who was participating in the Indigenous Peoples March.

Maker-spaces, adaptive learning, and wearable technologies are among the ed-tech trends to keep an eye on in the next few years, a new report says.

The move to middle school can be a rougher adjustment for students who were high achievers at their elementary schools, finds a new study.

Mandarin Chinese, French, German, and Vietnamese are also among five most-offered types of dual-language programs, a new federal report shows.

As black-white achievement gaps widen in schools, so, too, do disparities in discipline rates between black and white students, according to a study published Wednesday of 2,000 schools.

The 2020 school counselor of the year draws on her previous experience as a counselor for gang members in a prison to reform discipline in her school in an Atlanta suburb. She shares her insights in this Q&A with Education Week.

Autism has been associated with pregnancy and birth complications that may indicate a suboptimal prenatal environment. Although the interpregnancy interval (IPI) may affect the prenatal environment, the association between the IPI and risk for autism is not known.

Using full-sibling pairs from a large population, the authors examined the association between autism and IPIs. Second-born children conceived after an IPI of <12 months had more than threefold increased odds of autism relative to those with IPIs of ≥36 months. (Read the full article)

Few epidemiological studies, which included varied exposure assessment, have investigated the relation between drinking-water–disinfection byproducts such as trihalomethanes and hypospadias, and their results have been inconclusive.

Little evidence was found for an association between trihalomethanes and hypospadias, but a novel association between water consumption and hypospadias was found. Factors that influence maternal water consumption, or other contaminants in tap or bottled water, might explain this finding. (Read the full article)

The number of individuals diagnosed with autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) continues to increase in the United States and other developed countries. Most prevalence estimates indicate that ASD is diagnosed less commonly in Hispanic individuals compared with non-Hispanic (NH) white populations.

Prevalence of ASD in Arizona’s population-based cohort is higher than reported previously. Prevalence in the Hispanic population and NH white population increased significantly over time, with a significant decrease in the gap between Hispanic and NH white prevalence. (Read the full article)

Providers who speak Spanish, regardless of their proficiency level, may use Spanish for clinical care without seeking professional interpretation. Failure to use professional interpretation increases the risk for miscommunication and can lead to patient harm.

Providing residents with objective feedback on Spanish language proficiency decreased willingness to use Spanish in straightforward clinical scenarios. Language proficiency testing, coupled with institutional policies requiring professional interpretation, may improve care for patients with limited English proficiency. (Read the full article)

Various studies have documented marked racial/ethnic disparities in children’s receipt of dental services at single time points or brief periods.

This study reveals significant improvements in children’s receipt of dental care overall, as well as a dramatic narrowing of African American/white disparities in children’s receipt of dental services over the last 40 years in the United States. (Read the full article)