The dorsal visual processing stream subserves object directed action, while the ventral visual processing stream subserves visual object recognition. Little is known about how information computed by dorsal stream structures influences object recognition. We used Continuous Flash Suppression to functionally isolate the information computed by the dorsal stream from that computed by the ventral stream. We show that the information originating from the dorsal stream influences not only decisions requiring superordinate category knowledge, but also decisions that entail the selection of a basic-level object. We further show that the information computed by the dorsal stream does not carry specific functional information about objects. Our results indicate that the dorsal stream, in isolation from the ventral stream, is agnostic as to the identity of the objects that it processes. Instead, we suggest that structures within the dorsal stream compute motor-relevant information (e.g., graspability) that influences the identification of manipulable objects.
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