Describe the key functions of the major pathways in the visual cortex
What will be an ideal response?
The primary visual cortex (V1) sends information to the secondary visual cortex (area V2), which processes the information further and transmits it to additional areas. The connections in the visual cortex are reciprocal. For example, V1 sends information to V2, and V2 returns information to V1.
From V2, the information branches out in several directions for specialized processing. Researchers distinguish between the ventral stream and the dorsal stream. They call the ventral stream through the temporal cortex the "what" pathway, because it is specialized for identifying and recognizing objects. The dorsal stream through the parietal cortex, once called the "where" pathway, is now called the "how" pathway, because of its importance for visually guided movements.
Although the distinction between ventral and dorsal pathways is useful, we should not overstate it.
Normal behavior makes use of both pathways in collaboration (Farivar, 2009), and although
damage to either pathway impairs some tasks more than others, it affects all tasks to some degree.
You might also like to view...
An intelligence test is an example of an aptitude test
Indicate whether this statement is true or false.
The primary neurotransmitter at the neuromuscular junction is a. dopamine
b. GABA. c. acetylcholine (ACh). d. serotonin.
HAART is the combination of three or more HIV drugs, often referred to as ____
a. most effective therapy c. drug cocktails b. tailored therapy d. combination therapy
In evolutionary terms, an individual's success is measured by the
a. amount of territory one controls. b. degree of comfort an individual attains. c. number of offspring an individual produces. d. level of intelligence an individual acquires.