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 language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | e79326 |
Journal | PLoS ONE |
Volume | 8 |
Issue number | 11 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 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