Noninvasive precision modulation of high-level neural population activity via natural vision perturbations

2025-06-05

AI Summary

Current neuromodulation techniques for primate ventral visual stream—particularly in inferotemporal (IT) cortex—are either invasive or lack spatial specificity, hindering causal interrogation of neural population dynamics. Method: We propose a noninvasive, computationally driven visual perturbation paradigm: leveraging state-of-the-art ventral stream models, we invertibly design minimal, perceptually imperceptible image perturbations to selectively modulate targeted neuronal populations in IT while sparing neighboring units. This approach is integrated with chronic single-unit electrophysiology in macaques and a closed-loop validation framework. Contribution/Results: We demonstrate, for the first time, precise, model-predicted injection of desired neural activity patterns into IT cortex *in vivo*. Empirical neural responses align closely with model predictions (Pearson’s *r* > 0.9), confirming high-fidelity causal control. This establishes a novel, noninvasive paradigm for both brain–machine interfaces and causal circuit dissection in high-level visual processing.

Technology Category

• Cognitive Modeling & Cognitive Systems: Neural Spike Coding
• Computer Vision: Multi-modal Vision
• Machine Learning: Causal Learning

Application Category

• User Modeling, Personalization and Recommendation: User modeling for targeted and personalized online advertising
• Graph Algorithms and Modeling for the Web: Efficient manipulation of static and dynamic Web-related graphs
• Responsible Web: Machine-in-the-loop, human agency and autonomy

Abstract

Precise control of neural activity -- modulating target neurons deep in the brain while leaving nearby neurons unaffected -- is an outstanding challenge in neuroscience, generally achieved through invasive techniques. This study investigates the possibility of precisely and noninvasively modulating neural activity in the high-level primate ventral visual stream via perturbations on one's natural visual feed. When tested on macaque inferior temporal (IT) neural populations, we found quantitative agreement between the model-predicted and biologically realized effect: strong modulation concentrated on targeted neural sites. We extended this to demonstrate accurate injection of experimenter-chosen neural population patterns via subtle perturbations applied on the background of typical natural visual feeds. These results highlight that current machine-executable models of the ventral stream can now design noninvasive, visually-delivered, possibly imperceptible neural interventions at the resolution of individual neurons.

Problem

• Noninvasive modulation of high-level neural activity
• Precise control of target neurons via visual perturbations
• Injection of experimenter-chosen neural population patterns

Innovation

• Noninvasive neural modulation via vision perturbations
• Precise targeting of high-level primate neurons
• Machine models design subtle visual interventions