Project description
Visual experience: reality vs imagination
A visual experience can be triggered by an external stimulus during perception or by a memory through mental imagery. Although these processes share similar neural mechanisms in the brain, we generally do not mistake imagination for reality. The EU-funded RealOrImagined project wishes to investigate the mechanism our brain uses to decide whether a visual experience is real or imagined. Using cutting-edge neuro-imaging techniques, scientists will assess how different brain areas work together to attribute the source of sensory signals and track external reality. The project’s findings will improve our understanding of how visual experience is created and have important implications for cases in which this process goes wrong, such as hallucinations.
Objective
Visual experience can either be triggered externally, by light entering our eyes during perception, or internally, during mental imagery. Perception and imagery rely on similar neural mechanisms; however, we generally do not mistake our mental imagery for reality. Here I propose to investigate the neural mechanisms responsible for this “reality monitoring” by combining insights from metacognition and visual neuroscience. Specifically, I propose that this function is supported by an evaluation of evidence from specific layers of visual cortex by frontal decision areas. I will test this using a novel experimental paradigm in combination with cutting-edge neuroimaging techniques. I will first investigate the decision process by determining whether frontal cortex carries information about the attributed source (real or imagined) of a visual experience. Then, I will test whether visual cortex could provide this evidence by determining whether layer-specific activation dissociates externally from internally triggered visual experience. Finally, I will investigate how this information is used for source attribution by characterizing the connectivity between visual and frontal areas during perceptual reality monitoring. This research will improve the understanding of the fundamentals of visual experience and will have important implications for perceptual misattributions such as hallucinations.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
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Keywords
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
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H2020-EU.1.3. - EXCELLENT SCIENCE - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions
MAIN PROGRAMME
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H2020-EU.1.3.2. - Nurturing excellence by means of cross-border and cross-sector mobility
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Topic(s)
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Funding Scheme
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
MSCA-IF - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Individual Fellowships (IF)
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Call for proposal
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) H2020-MSCA-IF-2019
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Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.
WC1E 6BT London
United Kingdom
The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.