Ascending Visual Pathways

Retina-LGN-Cortical Route Optic Nerve Optic Chiasm Optic Tract LGN Superior Colliculus Primary Visual Cortex

Optic Tracts Segregation of the Visual Fields

Lateral Geniculate Nucleus of the Thalamus (LGN)

Primary Visual Cortex (V1)

Retinotopic Layout of V1

Emergent Properties of Cortical Cells Orientation Specificity Binocularity Local-to-Global Representation Directional Motion Specificity [MT]

Orientation Selectivity Figure 10.11 Neural response of an orientation-selective neuron depends on relationship of the light bar’s orientation to that of the RF. Firing profiles show that vertical bar optimally stimulates a neuron with a vertical RF orientation; minimum firing occurs when bar is horizontal. Summary of firing rate as a function of bar orientation is know as the orientation tuning curve.

Orientation Hypercolumn

Orientation Architecture

Binocularity

Cortical Modular Hierarchy