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Decoding neural activity patterns during perception and visual mental imagery

Poster Session C - Sunday, March 8, 2026, 5:00 – 7:00 pm PDT, Fairview/Kitsilano Ballroom

Alyssa M.L. Thibeault¹, Luke Atack¹, Stephen M. Emrich¹; ¹Brock University

Although visual imagery representations have been described as “perception-like”, shared neural markers of imagery and perception remain unclear. Results are also mixed regarding the temporal dynamics of imagery versus perception, with some work suggesting that significant imagery decoding is delayed relative to perception. To further explore these topics, the proposed research will examine the emergence of neural activity patterns during imagery and perception and assess if decoding accuracy varies based on individual differences in imagery ability. Participants will perform a visual recall task (adapted from Bainbridge et al., 2021) while EEG is recorded. Each trial, target images will be studied, followed by a distractor task. Studied images will then be visualized and vividness will be rated. Given some previous EEG studies (e.g., Wolff et al., 2017) suggest that visual impulse stimuli reactivate memory states during maintenance, some imagery trials will include a brief visual impulse to improve imagery decoding accuracy. The Vividness of Visual Imagery Questionnaire (VVIQ) will index imagery strength. Multivariate pattern analysis will be used to decode category information from EEG activity. Decoding analyses will focus on classifying imagined and perceived segments into broad categories of objects versus scenes, however, detailed comparisons will also be tested (e.g., exemplars within each category). If imagery is “perception-like”, cross-decoding accuracy between perception and imagery is predicted to increase with imagery strength. If, however, cross-decoding accuracy does not correlate with imagery strength, results may instead suggest a distinction in the neural regions supporting perception and even high-vividness imagery.

Topic Area: PERCEPTION & ACTION: Vision