Visual Processing in the Brain

Visual Pathway Basics

• Neural impulses from the retina are sent to the brain for analysis.
• The optic nerve carries light information from the eye to the brain.
• Stimuli in the left visual field hit the right half of the retina; stimuli in the right visual field hit the left half of the retina.
• At the optic chiasm, optic nerve fibers cross:
  • Fibers from the nose-side (medial) of each retina cross over.
  • Visual information from the right halves of both retinas goes to the right occipital lobe.
  • Visual information from the left halves of both retinas goes to the left occipital lobe.
• Consequently, the left visual field is processed in the right side of the brain, and the right visual field is processed in the left side of the brain.
• Information is then processed and combined in the visual cortex.