Theoretical and methodological approaches to studying recurrent processing in the human brain using transcranial magnetic stimulation

Cutler, Rory 2017. Theoretical and methodological approaches to studying recurrent processing in the human brain using transcranial magnetic stimulation. PhD Thesis, Cardiff University. Item availability restricted.

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Abstract

The experiments presented in thesis aimed to investigate how communication takes between and within different brain regions. A particular focus was on predictive coding frameworks, which may explain how information is fed forward and backward within the human brain (Rao & Ballard, 1999; Friston, 2005; Lamme & Roelfsema, 2000). Early visual cortex (EVC) and dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) were subjected to transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) in order to reveal when, and under what cognitive contexts, these two sites accomplish fundamental visual processes. Behavioural paradigms that manipulate and measure constituent cognitive functions were developed in order to test the critical premises of predictive coding. Since the main experiments were publicly pre-registered, a new approach for simulating data for a priori planning of statistical analyses in TMS studies was also developed. Results indicate that the temporal positions of EVC-and DLPFC-TMS induced effects occur at the same time. Results also indicate that the familiarity (or frequency) at which a target appears could be a determined of the duration of processing within EVC. The results also reveal a series of methodological considerations that should be taken into account when relying on a probabilistic experimental manipulation to probe the existence of predictive coding.

Item Type:	Thesis (PhD)
Date Type:	Completion
Status:	Unpublished
Schools:	Psychology
Subjects:	B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > BF Psychology
Date of First Compliant Deposit:	23 April 2018
Date of Acceptance:	19 March 2018
Last Modified:	20 May 2021 13:58
URI:	https://orca.cardiff.ac.uk/id/eprint/109985

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