Exam 2 Flashcards
Chapters 4 & 9 (74 cards)
Overview of the visual Pathway
Object has light energy > eye > lateral geniculate nucleus (LGN) in the thalamus > Visual receiving area of cortex
Optic Nerve
Comprised of ganglion cells
Optic Chiasm
Neural cross-over pt
-Ipsilateral - Retinal fibers remain on same side of brain (sends to 2, 3, 5 on LGN)
-Contralateral - Retinal fibers cross to other side of brain (sends to 1, 4, 6 on LGN)
-Found with help from “man whose wife is a hat”
LGN (lateral geniculate nucleus)
Part of thalamus, first syn of optic nerve
-90% of optic nerve fibers arrive here (other 10% of superior colliculus)
-Also recieve from brainstem, thalamus neurons, and the cortex
What are the three visual cortexes
Primary visual cortex (PVC)
Secondary Visual Cortex (SVC)
Extrastriate Cortex
LGN recieves more input from _ than the retina
More input from the cortex
The smallest signal of all is from _ to _
The LGN to the cortex
-Sending 4 nerve impulses to the cortex out of 10 coming from retina
Primary Visual Cortex (PVC)
In occipital lobe, AKA striate or striped cortex
Secondary Visual Cortex (SVC)
Areas immediately surrounding PVC
Extrastriate Cortex
2 pathways:
-Dorsal pathway - Parietal lobe
-Ventral pathway - Temporal lobe
Types of ganglion cells
P (parval) cells
M (magno) cells
W cells
P (parval) cell
Sm cell body w/ dense but short branching, representing 80% of retinal ganglian cells
M (magno) cells
Lg cell body w/ sparse but long branching, representing 20% of retinal ganglion cells
Phys aspects of P-cells
P cells have a slower production rate, sustained response, and small RF (fovea & periphery) w/ L contrast sensitivity
-Responds to H illumination & is color sensitive
Phys Aspects of M-cells
Rapid conduction rate, transient response, large RF (Periphery) w/ H contrast sensitivity
-Responds to L illumination & no color
Bhvrl consequences of P
-Detailed form analysis
-Detecting fine detail (ex, texture and pattern)
-Shape and depth
-Color vision
Bhvrl consequences of M-cells
-Motion detection
-REM
-Temporal analysis
-Some depth perception
Superior Colliculus
Detects stim presence, not nature
-Where 10% of ganglion cells from retina go
-Multisensory cells - visual, auditory, and some tactile
-“Secondary visual pathway”
The LGN
In the thalamus, receives 90% of retina cells, regulating info flow to retina to visual cortex
-Firing rate is sensitive to arousal
-Has retinotopic mapping
-“Post office of senses”
Retinotopic mapping
Location on LGN corr w/ retina location, neighbor on LGN = neighbor on retina
LGN’s 6 Layers
Layers 1 & 2 - Magnocellular layers
3, 4, 5, & 6 - P-cell
-Ipsilateral sends to 2, 3, 5
-Contralateral sends to 1, 4, 6 (best & worse on one team)
Impulse from LGN to Striate Cortex: How many, and details
1.5M axons from each LGN transmit info to striate cortex (PVC)
-Info from LGN is “crude”
-Represents small light changes to complex patterns
-Each fracture of visual cortex is rep w/in an individual/group of neurons
Hubel & Wiesel (1982) Cat Study
Cat experiment showing slides discover cortical neurons didn’t fire to small spot of light, distinguishing 3 neurons: simple, complex, and end-stopped cells
Simple Cell
Have RF w/ inhibitory & excitatory regions
-Not arranged by center surround
-Detect lines & edges of specific orientation