Scene processing precedes object processing: Evidence from EEG decoding

In the real world, objects are perceived within the context of a background scene, rather than in isolation. When an object is presented within a scene, which is processed first—the object or the scene? What roles do edge and surface information play in the neural representation of objects and scenes? To address these questions, we combined EEG and multivariate pattern analysis (MVPA) methods in a one-back task. Participants viewed images of objects embedded in scenes, presented as color photographs, grayscale images, or line drawing. Decoding resulting revealed that scenes were processed earlier than objects across all three image versions. Additionally, edge information alone was sufficient for the neural representation of objects, while surface information was primarily involved in the neural representation of scenes. These findings provide neural evidence supporting the “scene-first” hypothesis and highlight the distinct roles of edge and surface information in dynamic processing of objects and scenes.

搜集汇总

背景与挑战

背景概述

该数据集基于脑电图（EEG）和多变量模式分析（MVPA）方法，研究物体在场景背景下的处理时序及边缘与表面信息的作用。核心发现是场景处理在所有图像版本（彩色、灰度、线条图）中均早于物体处理，且边缘信息足以支持物体神经表征，而表面信息主要参与场景神经表征，为'场景优先'假说提供了神经证据。