Transient interhemispheric neuronal synchrony correlates with object recognition

Object recognition might be achieved by the recreation of a meaningful internal image from visual fragments. This recreation might be achieved by neuronal synchronization that has been proposed as a solution for the perceptual binding problem. In this study, we evaluated synchronization between the occipitotemporal regions bilaterally using electroencephalograms during several visual recognition tasks. Conscious recognition of familiar objects spanning the visual midline induced transient interhemispheric electroencephalographic coherence in the alpha band, which did not occur with meaningless objects or with passive viewing. Moreover, there was no interhemispheric coherence when midline objects were not recognized as meaningful or when familiar objects were presented in one visual hemifield. These data suggest a close link between site-specific interregional synchronization and object recognition.