Biology subjects

Kaemmer, L.

Publications and source records attributed to Kaemmer, L..

3 recordsLinked to original sources

bioRxiv2026

Time- and performance-dependent enhancement of tactospatial working memory caused by online anodal tDCS of the posterior parietal cortex

BackgroundSpatial working memory (WM) relies on posterior parietal cortex (PPC) within a distributed fronto-parietal network, yet whether online anodal transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) of PPC modulates tactile WM, and how behavioral effects unfold over time, remains unclear. ObjectiveWe tested whether online anodal tDCS over left PPC modulates performance in a tactospatial WM task and whether stimulation effects vary over time and as a function of baseline performance. MethodsIn a double-blind, sham-controlled, within-subject crossover design, 32 healthy adults completed two counterbalanced sessions (Active, Sham). Each session comprised baseline, stimulation, and post-stimulation phases while participants performed a retro-cued delayed match-to-sample task with vibrotactile patterns delivered to the left index finger. During the stimulation phase, participants received either 2 mA anodal or sham tDCS over left PPC for 15 min, depending on session. Behavioral accuracy was analyzed using a sliding-window approach combined with cluster-based permutation testing. ResultsActive stimulation induced a significant, gradual improvement in WM accuracy relative to sham, emerging approximately eight minutes after stimulation onset and corresponding to a [~]5% performance increase (Hedges g = 0.43). Stimulation effects were baseline-dependent, with individuals showing lower initial WM performance exhibiting larger behavioral gains, whereas high performers showed minimal benefits. ConclusionsThese findings show that online anodal stimulation of left PPC can modulate tactile WM performance in a time- and baseline-dependent manner. More broadly, the results suggest that behavioral effects of parietal tDCS emerge gradually during ongoing stimulation and depend on initial cognitive state. HighlightsO_LIOnline anodal PPC-tDCS enhances tactile working memory C_LIO_LIBehavioral gains emerge after [~]8 min of stimulation C_LIO_LIActive stimulation improves accuracy by [~]5% versus sham C_LIO_LILower baseline performers show larger stimulation benefits C_LIO_LISliding-window analyses capture dynamic online tDCS effects C_LI

neuroscience↗

bioRxiv2025

Decoding peripheral saccade targets from foveal retinotopic cortex

Human vision is characterized by frequent eye movements and constant shifts in visual input, yet our perception of the world remains remarkably stable. Here, we directly demonstrate image-specific foveal feedback to primary visual cortex in the context of saccadic eye movements. To this end, we used a gaze-contingent fMRI paradigm, in which peripheral saccade targets disappeared before they could be fixated. Despite no direct foveal stimulation, we were able to decode peripheral saccade targets from foveal retinotopic areas, demonstrating that image-specific feedback during saccade preparation may underlie this effect. Decoding was sensitive to shape but not semantic category of natural images, indicating feedback of only low-to-mid-level information. Cross-decoding to a control condition with foveal stimulus presentation indicates a shared representational format between foveal feedback and direct stimulation. Moreover, eccentricity-dependent analyses showed a u-shaped decoding curve, confirming that these results are not explained by spillover of peripheral activity or large receptive fields. Finally, fluctuations in foveal decodability covaried with activity in the intraparietal sulcus, thus providing a candidate region for driving foveal feedback. These findings suggest that foveal cortex predicts the features of incoming stimuli through feedback from higher cortical areas, which offers a candidate mechanism underlying stable perception.

neuroscience↗

bioRxiv2021

Humans can track but fail to predict accelerating objects

Objects in our visual environment often move unpredictably and can suddenly speed up or slow down. The ability to account for acceleration when interacting with moving objects can be critical for survival. Here, we investigate how human observers track an accelerating target with their eyes and predict its time of reappearance after a temporal occlusion by making an interceptive hand movement. Before occlusion, the target was initially visible and accelerated for a brief period. We tested how observers integrated target motion information by comparing three alternative models that predicted time-to-contact (TTC) based on the (1) final target velocity sample before occlusion, (2) average target velocity before occlusion, or (3) target acceleration. We show that visually-guided smooth pursuit eye movements reliably reflect target acceleration prior to occlusion. However, systematic saccade and manual interception timing errors reveal an inability to consider acceleration when predicting TTC. Interception timing is best described by the final velocity model that relies on extrapolating the last available velocity sample before occlusion. These findings provide compelling evidence for differential acceleration integration mechanisms in vision-guided eye movements and prediction-guided interception and a mechanistic explanation for the function and failure of interactions with accelerating objects.

neuroscience↗