How Your Brain Distinguishes Soft and Hard Objects

Fast Summary

• A study published in Current Biology by neuroscientists at MIT identified specialized regions within the brain’s visual cortex that distinguish between “things” (rigid objects like stones or balls) and “stuff” (liquids or granular materials like sand or water).
• The ventral visual pathway’s lateral occipital complex (LOC) focuses on shape recognition of 3D objects, while the dorsal visual pathway’s frontoparietal physics network (FPN) examines physical properties such as stability and movement.
• Researchers observed differences in how subregions of these pathways respond to rigid versus fluid-like materials, using videos analyzed through functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI).
• Nancy kanwisher, an MIT neuroscientist, noted that interacting with gooey materials frequently enough requires tools rather than direct physical handling.
• The researchers hypothesize this classification system may be similar to how video game engines simulate physical properties of objects and liquids.

Indian Opinion Analysis

The findings from this MIT study deepen our understanding of human cognitive processing and neural specialization-topics increasingly relevant in fields ranging from artificial intelligence research to robotics design. For India, where science investment is growing rapidly under various initiatives like “Make in India” for technology development, such breakthroughs could inform advancements in AI-based object recognition systems or tactile interfaces mimicking human behavior more precisely. Moreover, India’s burgeoning interest in neuroscience could benefit from applying these insights toward health-tech solutions for neurological disorders influencing perception. Collaborative opportunities between Indian research institutes and global entities could flow naturally as our nation strengthens its scientific innovation ecosystem.

Read More: https://www.popsci.com/health/how-brain-knows-hard-squishy/