Abstract
Two cortical pathways are considered to be main components for performing basic operations in sensory perception such as figure-ground. Feedforward projections defining the classical receptive field properties of neurons detect visual elements and cortical feedback projections convey contextual influences beyond the classical receptive field. Previously we demonstrated that cortical feedback cannot explain all observed neural processes in figure-ground. In this study we show that vergence eye movements reflect figure-ground perception. The early onset (100-150 ms) of the slow vergence eye movement indicates that motor responses can influence perceptual processing during a prolonged period. The late (400-550 ms) discriminative vergence responses in figure-ground imply a cognitive role. Our findings may be important for the understanding of the neurobiology of visual perception.