Abstract
Visual information is interrupted frequently due to occlusion, eyeblinks, and saccades. However, objects in the visual environment seem to persist through these perceptual gaps. In the current preregistered study, we examined the nature of object representations during perceptual gaps caused by occlusion. Participants passively viewed an object moving on a circular trajectory in the periphery. Occasionally, the object was either dynamically occluded or shrank and disappeared. Using Magnetoencephalography (MEG) paired with sensor-space multivariate pattern analyses, we were able to track how object representations unfold over time: before, during and after occlusion. Focusing on colour, shape and position as different object features, when the moving objects were fully visible, there was clear evidence for information about all features in the MEG signal. During occlusion, some information persisted, but not to the same degree as when visible. In addition, these weaker representations of object features were not specific to occlusion but also occurred when the object was perceived to disappear. Overall, our results challenge the notion of a perception-like representation of moving objects during occlusion and open up new questions about how the visual system overcomes perceptual gaps to support the perception of a meaningful, continuous stream of information.