NMDA receptor antagonist ketamine impairs feature integration in visual perception

Julia D I Meuwese, Anouk M van Loon, H Steven Scholte, Philipp B Lirk, Nienke C C Vulink, Markus W Hollmann, Victor A F Lamme

Research output: Contribution to JournalArticleAcademicpeer-review

Abstract

Recurrent interactions between neurons in the visual cortex are crucial for the integration of image elements into coherent objects, such as in figure-ground segregation of textured images. Blocking N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors in monkeys can abolish neural signals related to figure-ground segregation and feature integration. However, it is unknown whether this also affects perceptual integration itself. Therefore, we tested whether ketamine, a non-competitive NMDA receptor antagonist, reduces feature integration in humans. We administered a subanesthetic dose of ketamine to healthy subjects who performed a texture discrimination task in a placebo-controlled double blind within-subject design. We found that ketamine significantly impaired performance on the texture discrimination task compared to the placebo condition, while performance on a control fixation task was much less impaired. This effect is not merely due to task difficulty or a difference in sedation levels. We are the first to show a behavioral effect on feature integration by manipulating the NMDA receptor in humans.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)e79326
JournalPLoS ONE
Volume8
Issue number11
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2013

Keywords

  • Female
  • Healthy Volunteers
  • Humans
  • Ketamine
  • Male
  • Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate
  • Visual Perception
  • Young Adult
  • Controlled Clinical Trial
  • Journal Article
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

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