Research Summary
Dr. Connor’s laboratory research aims at understanding the neural algorithms that make object vision possible. The lab hopes that findings will not only explain the neural basis of visual experience but will someday contribute to designs for more powerful machine vision systems and brain-machine interfaces.
Ongoing research in the Connor lab seeks to understand the following questions:
- How is complex 3-D object structure represented?
- How is large-scale 3-D structure (buildings, landscapes) represented?
- How is 4-D object structure (shape-in-motion through time) represented?
- How are these representations generated from retinal input signals?
- How is object information stored, recalled, and used in decision-making?
- How do neural representations determine visual aesthetics—what is special about the neural activity patterns evoked by beautiful sculptures or paintings?
Selected Publications
Yau JM, Pasupathy A, Brincat SL, Connor CE. “Curvature Processing Dynamics in Macaque Area V4.” Cereb Cortex. 2012 Jan 31.
Hung, C –C, Carlson, ET, Connor CE. “Medial Axis Shape Coding in Macaque Inferotemporal Cortex.” Neuron. 2012 Jun 21:74(6):1099-113. PMID: 22726839
Kourtzi, Z & Connor, CE. “Neural representations for object perception: structure, category, and adapative coding.” Annu Rev Neurosci 2011; 34:45-67.
Carlson ET, Rasquinha RJ, Zhang K, Connor CE. “A sparse object coding scheme in area V4.” Curr Biol 2011. 21(4):288-93.
Yau JM, Pasupathy A, Fitzgerald PJ, Hsiao SS, Connor CE. “Analogous intermediate shape coding in vision and touch. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. Sep 22;106(38):16457-62. Epub 2009 Sep 4.
Yamane Y, Carlson ET, Bowman KC, Wang Z, Connor CE. “A neural code for three-dimensional object shape in macaque inferotemporal cortex.” Nat Neurosci. 2008 Nov;11(11):1352-60. Epub 2008 Oct 5.
Brincat SL, Connor CE. “Dynamic shape synthesis in posterior inferotemporal cortex.” Neuron. 2006 49:17-24.
Brincat SL, Connor CE. “Underlying principles of visual shape selectivity in posterior inferotemporal cortex.” Nature Neuroscience. 2004 7: 880-886.
Pasupathy A, Connor CE. Population coding of shape in area V4. Nature Neuroscience. 2002 5: 1332-1338.
Hinkle DA, Connor CE. “Three-dimensional orientation tuning in macaque area V4.” Nature Neuroscience. 2002 5: 665-670.
Patient Ratings & Comments
The Patient Rating score is an average of all responses to physician related questions on the national CG-CAHPS Medical Practice patient experience survey through Press Ganey. Responses are measured on a scale of 1 to 5, with 5 being the best score. Comments are also gathered from our CG-CAHPS Medical Practice Survey through Press Ganey and displayed in their entirety. Patients are de-identified for confidentiality and patient privacy.