Visual Pathways and Processing

These flashcards cover vocabulary related to the lecture on visual processing, including pathways, structures, and concepts of vision.

Geniculostriate Pathway

Pathway from the optic chiasm to the lateral geniculate nucleus in the thalamus, then to visual cortex.

Dorsal Stream

The 'where' pathway of visual processing, related to motion and spatial awareness.

Ventral Stream

The 'what' pathway of visual processing, related to object identification.

Optic Chiasm

Point where optic nerves cross, allowing visual information from both eyes to be processed by opposite hemispheres.

Retinal Ganglion Cells

Cells in the retina that receive input from rods and cones and send visual information to the brain.

Topographic Map

Spatial organization in the brain that reflects the arrangement of sensory input.

Retinotopic Coding

Organization of visual information in the brain that mirrors the layout of the retina.

Receptive Field

The specific area of the visual field that a ganglion cell responds to.

Lateral Geniculate Nucleus (LGN)

Structure in the thalamus that processes visual information before it reaches the visual cortex.

Visual Cortex (V1)

The primary area of the brain responsible for processing visual information.

Contrast

Differences in luminance or color that make an object distinguishable from its background.

Photons

Basic units of light that enter the retina and trigger visual processing.

On Center Cell

Type of ganglion cell that is excited by light in the center of its receptive field and inhibited by light in the periphery.

Off Center Cell

Type of ganglion cell that is inhibited by light in the center of its receptive field and excited by light in the periphery.

Complex Cells

V1 cells that are maximally activated by moving bars of light in a specific direction.

Hypercomplex Cells

V1 cells that respond to moving bars with specific lengths and have an inhibitory area.

Visual Acuity

The ability to see fine detail, primarily concentrated in the fovea.

Phobia (Fovea)

The area of the retina with the highest density of photoreceptors, providing the clearest vision.

Pulpinar

Part of the thalamus involved in visual processing within the tectopulmonary stream.

Superior Colliculus

A structure in the brainstem that plays a role in the tectopulmonary pathway for visual processing.

Visual Field

The entire area that can be seen at any given moment.

Rods and Cones

Photoreceptors in the retina responsible for detecting light and color.

Spatial Location

The specific position of objects in the visual field as processed by the brain.

Brainstem

The part of the brain that connects the cerebrum with the spinal cord, involved in basic life functions.

Visual Perception

The ability to interpret and make sense of visual stimuli in the environment.

Edge Detection

The process by which the visual system identifies the boundaries of objects.

Movement Detection

The ability to perceive motion in the visual field.

Integration of Information

The process by which the brain combines input from multiple receptors to form a cohesive understanding of stimuli.

Overlapping Receptive Fields

The arrangement of ganglion cells in the retina where their receptive fields intersect to enhance sensitivity to edges.

Illumination

The level of brightness or light intensity affecting visual perception.

Object Recognition

The ability to identify and categorize objects based on visual input.

Contrast Sensitivity

The capacity to detect differences in luminance between an object and its background.

Luminance

The intensity of light emitted or reflected from a surface.

Visual Processing Pathway

The series of neurological steps that visual information takes through the visual system.

Hippocampus

A brain region associated with memory; recent studies suggest it may also support aspects of retinotopic coding.

Cerebellum

A brain region important for coordination and movement, potentially involved in spatial awareness.

Bar Orientation

The specific angle or direction of light bars that certain V1 cells respond to.

Illusion of Motion

The perception of movement created by visual stimuli that imply motion.

Spatial Awareness

The understanding of position and distance relative to other objects in the environment.

Visual Dominance

The tendency for visual information to overpower other sensory inputs in perception.

Visual Hierarchy

The organization of sensory information processing from simple to complex interpretations.

Neural Integration

The way in which interconnected neurons share and combine information to inform perception.

Psychology of Vision

The field of study focusing on how humans perceive visual information.