ISSN 1671-3710
CN 11-4766/R
主办:中国科学院心理研究所
出版:科学出版社

心理科学进展 ›› 2026, Vol. 34 ›› Issue (4): 710-725.doi: 10.3724/SP.J.1042.2026.0710 cstr: 32111.14.2026.0710

• 研究前沿 • 上一篇    下一篇

视觉物体表征加工中背-腹通路的相互作用

高飞1, 蔡厚德2   

  1. 1山东师范大学心理学部, 济南 250358;
    2南京师范大学心理学院, 南京 210097
  • 收稿日期:2025-03-28 出版日期:2026-04-15 发布日期:2026-03-02
  • 通讯作者: 蔡厚德, E-mail: caihoude@163.com
  • 基金资助:
    山东省社会科学规划研究项目(19CSZJ35)、山东省社会科学普及应用研究项目(2020-SKZZ-01)、山东师范大学实验教学改革项目(SYJG050227)资助

Dorsal-ventral pathway interactions in visual object representation

GAO Fei1, CAI Houde2   

  1. 1Faculty of Psychology, Shandong Normal University, Jinan 250358, China;
    2School of Psychology, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing 210097, China
  • Received:2025-03-28 Online:2026-04-15 Published:2026-03-02

摘要: 大脑的视觉系统通过背侧与腹侧通路加工物体的视觉信息。腹侧通路主要负责“是什么” (what)的物体视觉识别加工, 背侧通路主要负责“在哪里” (where)的物体视空间与运动加工。但是, 背-腹通路存在多重交互的神经连接, 提示视觉物体表征加工中存在两者的功能相互作用。一方面, 腹侧通路并不能单独计算物体的整体形状, 背侧通路对物体整体形状的表征信息有必要与腹侧通路表征的物体局部特征信息汇合, 以支持不变性的物体视觉信息加工; 另一方面, 在目标导向的思想和行为中, 背侧通路需要实时提取和保持来自腹侧通路的物体视觉信息, 以实现适应性的物体视觉信息加工。前者是一种主要受特征驱动(自下而上)的功能整合, 而后者是一种主要受任务驱动(自上而下)的功能整合。未来还需深入研究注意对背侧通路表征物体整体形状的影响、物体熟悉性调节整体形状与局部特征整合的机制、视觉工作记忆如何抵抗干扰以保持对目标导向刺激的加工机制、内生记忆信息对适应性视觉物体表征的影响, 以及背-腹通路的发育机制及其对两者相互作用的影响等。

关键词: 视觉物体表征, 背-腹通路的相互作用, 不变性的物体视觉信息加工, 适应性的物体视觉信息加工

Abstract: Invariant and adaptive visual object processing represent two core mechanisms through which the brain's visual system encodes visual objects. The former refers to the visual system achieving object recognition and categorical classification by representing object features invariantly, despite changes in viewing conditions (such as viewpoint or size). The latter involves the dynamic selection and temporary maintenance of object information by the visual system to achieve object representations adapted to an individual's goals and tasks. From the perspective of dorsal-ventral pathway interactions, this article elaborates on the respective information integration mechanisms underlying invariant and adaptive processing, and summarizes their functional relationships (e.g., static recognition vs. dynamic modulation; feature-driven vs. task-driven).
Specifically, the paper first discusses the functional segregation and integration within the dorsal-ventral pathways during invariant visual object processing. It posits that during object feature recognition, the ventral pathway alone is insufficient for representing the global shape crucial for invariant processing. Instead, global shape information represented in the posterior intraparietal sulcus (pIPS) converges with local feature information represented by the ventral pathway in the lateral occipital complex (LOC), thereby supporting invariant visual object processing. Subsequently, the article examines the functional integration mechanisms during adaptive visual object processing. It proposes that the posterior parietal cortex (PPC) acts as a dynamic platform for integrating object information, flexibly selecting task-relevant visual object information from the ventral pathway and temporarily maintaining it within visual working memory (VWM) - supported by the superior intraparietal sulcus (sIPS) - for cognitive operations, thus enabling goal-directed adaptive visual information processing.
Accordingly, this article highlights functional interactions between the dorsal and ventral pathways during visual object representation. Invariant visual object representation constitutes a primarily feature-driven (bottom-up) functional integration, providing a stable, veridical, and detailed representation of the visual environment. In contrast, adaptive visual object representation constitutes a primarily task-driven (top-down) functional integration, enabling flexible and effective interaction with the external world. Furthermore, regarding the logical sequence of cognitive processing, adaptive information processing in the dorsal pathway - mediated by attention and VWM - is proposed to build upon the completion of invariant representations in the ventral pathway. Conversely, the dorsal pathway modulates and reshapes VWM-related object information within the ventral occipitotemporal cortex (VOTC) to facilitate cross-pathway functional integration. The mechanisms of dorsal-ventral pathway interaction in visual object processing elucidated herein not only refine our understanding of the neural mechanisms underlying object cognition but also hold significant value for artificial intelligence modeling of object recognition and clinical research on visual perceptual disorders.
Future research should focus on development and refinement in five key areas: First, regarding the mechanisms of attention's influence on global shape representation, it is necessary to investigate the functional nature of global shape processing in the dorsal pathway from both bottom-up and top-down attentional perspectives. Second, concerning the potential influence of object familiarity on the representation of global shape and local features in the dorsal-ventral pathways, research should integrate findings from infant development, computational modeling (e.g., DNNs), and neuropsychological studies of brain lesions to explore how changes in object familiarity through learning and training affect the processing and integration of global and local features. Third, regarding how VWM resists interference to maintain processing of goal-relevant stimuli, studies are needed to examine how the dorsal pathway (PPC) integrates information from the prefrontal cortex (PFC) and the ventral pathway within VWM to prioritize task-relevant target information while filtering out irrelevant distractions. Fourth, concerning the impact of endogenous memory information on adaptive visual object representation, attention should be directed to the relationship between the buffering mechanism for multimodal spatiotemporal information input in the angular gyrus (AnG) and the information selection/manipulation functions of the lateral (lIPS) and superior (sIPS) intraparietal sulcus, to elucidate the PPC's mechanisms for adaptive visual representation of internally and externally generated information. Finally, regarding the dynamic bidirectional interactions between the dorsal and ventral pathways during ontogeny - specifically, the driving and supportive role of the earlier-developing dorsal pathway on the later-developing ventral pathway in infancy, and the subsequent supportive/driving influence of the maturing ventral pathway on dorsal pathway development in childhood - research is needed to examine how these directionally distinct interactions during infancy and childhood influence the functional integration of the dorsal-ventral pathways in invariant and adaptive visual object processing. In summary, investigating these aspects is crucial for constructing a comprehensive model of dorsal-ventral pathway interactions in object representation and holds significant prospective value for guiding future research.

Key words: visual object representation, dorsal-ventral pathway interaction, invariant visual object processing, adaptive visual object processing

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