CHAPTER 4.12: The Visual Pathway

Question 1

everything in our left visual field is communicated to the ____ side of our brain and vice versa

Answer 1

right

Question 2

what is the optic chiasm?

Answer 2

crossover between optic nerve and midpoint of brain. allows for information in left visual field cross to the right hemisphere!

Question 3

where does visual info go after the optic chiasm?

Answer 3

thalamus (the traffic cop that directs sensory info to where it needs to go)

Question 4

what is the lateral geniculate nucleus?

Answer 4

region of thalamus that directs VISUAL info throughout the brain.

Question 5

where does visual sensory info go after the lateral geniculate nucleus?

Answer 5

visual cortex

Question 6

about 90% of visual signals are received by the ____ while the other 10% are received by the ____ to create the orienting response

Answer 6

lateral geniculate nucleus, superior colliculus

Question 7

what is the purpose of the primary visual cortex?

Answer 7

provide a breakdown of primary visual features that make up the image we are looking at

Question 8

primary visual cortex is made of ____ cells

Answer 8

feature detection

Question 9

what are feature detection cells?

Answer 9

neurons that makeup primary visual cortex responding VERY selectively to only one type of stimulus (ex. particular angle of light or edge) as well as specific regions of visual field

Question 10

if vertically penetrating the skull with an electrode, what would be found of the feature detection cells?

Answer 10

all correspond to the same angle of light, but different regions of visual field

Question 11

if horizontally penetrating the skull with an electrode, what would be found of the feature detection cells?

Answer 11

all correspond to diff angles but same region of visual field

Question 12

what is considered under the domain of the ventral stream?

Answer 12

face perception and perceptual constancy

Question 13

what is considered under the domain of the dorsal stream?

Answer 13

interaction with objects and depth perception