Project
High-resolution 7T fMRI imaging of object and category representations in the human brain
We first compare several popular methods of analyses for fMRI data to decide which ones are suitable for our research purposes: univariate analysis (using a general linear model), multi-voxel pattern analysis, and functional connectivity analysis. We then perform high-resolution imaging, using 7T fMRI, together with a vast number of categories, in order to characterize category-selective regions of the occipitotemporal cortex (OTC) and the functional organization of OTC in more detail: how many regions do we have for one particular category and how do these category-specific regions relate to each other and the neural anatomy? In addition, we also investigate the relationships between category selectivity and the maps for other features: more large‐scale organizational dimensions such as animacy and real‐world size. First initial steps have been taken to tackle these questions. We set out to replicate these findings and extend them to a wider range of categories: to the case of the visual word form area and to the case of the hand and tool areas.