Direct encoding of new visual concepts in early visual cortex

Abstract

Neocortical memories are assumed to rely on slow systems consolidation through hippocampal offline reactivation. However, recent studies show rapid neocortical integration of new memories for information associated with prior knowledge. Testing the limits of rapid neocortical learning, we tracked memory formation across 24h with functional and diffusion-weighted MRI in subjects acquiring either conceptual or detailed knowledge of novel objects from identical visual stimulation. Concept learning-induced rapid, 24h-stable changes in strength and pattern of functional early visual cortex responses. These were co-localized with microstructural changes, correlated positively with categorization performance and negatively with context recognition. Detailed item-context learning elicited analogous changes in posterior parietal areas. Results show that the neocortex can rapidly learn without prior knowledge and that concept learning can occur in early sensory regions that process corresponding visual features. Thus, we substantiate the possibility of direct or parallel neocortical encoding without offline abstraction from individual episodes.