Chapter 3: Spatial Vision: From Spots to Stripes

Question 1

the difference in light between a figure and its background

Answer 1

contrast

Question 2

the smallest spatial detail that can be resolved at 100% contrast

Answer 2

acuity

Question 3

the angle subtended by an object at the retina

Answer 3

visual angle

Question 4

a function that describes how spatial frequency and contrast interact together to make a pattern more or less visible

Answer 4

contrast sensitivity

Question 5

a structure in the thalamus, part of the midbrain, that receives input from the retinal ganglion cells and has input and output connections to the visual cortex

Answer 5

lateral geniculate nucleus (LGN)

Question 6

the orderly mapping of the world in the lateral geniculate nucleus and the visual cortex

Answer 6

topographical mapping

Question 7

the tendency of neurons in striate cortex to respond optimally to certain orientations and less to others

Answer 7

orientation tuning

Question 8

a neuron whose receptive field does not have clearly defined excitatory and inhibitory regions

Answer 8

complex cells

Question 9

a cortical neuron whose receptive field has clearly defined excitatory and inhibitory regions

Answer 9

simple cells

Question 10

a 1-millimeter block of striate cortex containing two sets of columns, each covering every possible orientation (0-180 degrees), with one set preferring input from the left eye and one set preferring input from the right eye

Answer 10

hypercolumn

Question 11

a reduction in response caused by prior or continuing stimulation

Answer 11

adaptation

Question 12

a misalignment of the two eyes such that a single object in space is imaged on the fovea of one eye and on a nonfoveal area of the other (turned) eye

Answer 12

strabismus

Question 13

a developmental disorder characterized by reduced spatial vision in an otherwise healthy eye, even with proper correction for refractive error. also known as “lazy eye”

Answer 13

amblyopia