Chapter 3

Question 0

Retinotopic mapping

Answer 0

An arrangement of neurons in the visual system whereby signals from retinal ganglion cells with receptive fields that are next to each other on the retina travel to neurons that are next to each other in each visual area of the brain

Question 1

Functional Specialization

Answer 1

The specialization of different neural pathways and different areas of the brain for representing different kinds of information.

Question 2

Optic Chiasm

Answer 2

The location where the optic nerve from the two eyes split in half, with half the axons from each eye crossing over to the other hemisphere of the brain

Question 3

Optic tract

Answer 3

The continuation of the optic nerve past the optic chiasm, the right optic tract consists of axons from the retinal ganglion cells from the right half of the retina…left from left

Question 4

Contralateral organization

Answer 4

Opposite side organization in which stimulation of neurons on one side of the body or sensory organ is represented by the activity of neurons in the opposite side of the brain

Question 5

Lateral geniculate nucleus

Answer 5

Part of the thalamus receives visual signals via the axons of retinal ganglion cells

Question 6

Magnocellular layers

Answer 6

Layers of the lateral geniculate nucleus containing neurons with large cell bodies

Question 7

Parvocellular layers

Answer 7

Layers of the lateral geniculate nucleus containing neurons with small cell bodies

Question 8

Konicellular layers

Answer 8

Layers of the lateral geniculate nucleus containing cells with very small cell bodies

Question 9

Parasol retinal ganglion cells

Answer 9

Retinal ganglion cells that send signals to the magnocellular layers of the lateral geniculate nucleus

Question 10

Midget retinal ganglion cells

Answer 10

Retinal ganglion cells that send signals to the parvocellular layers of the lateral geniculate nucleus

Question 11

Bistratified retinal ganglion cells

Answer 11

Retinal ganglion cells that send signals to the konicellular layers of the lateral geniculate nucleus

Question 12

Superior colliculus

Answer 12

A structure near the top of the brain stem (one in each hemisphere); its principal function is to help control eye movement

Question 13

Multi sensory integration

Answer 13

A function of brain areas in which signals from different sensory systems are combined

Question 14

Primary visual cortex

Answer 14

The part of the occipital lobe where signals flow from the lateral geniculate nucleus

Question 15

Simple cell

Answer 15

A type of neuron in area V1 that responds best to a stimulus with a particular orientation in the location of its receptive field

Question 16

Preferred orientation

Answer 16

The stimulus orientation that tends to produce the strongest response from an orientation-tuned neuron such as a simple cell.

Question 17

Orientation tuning curve

Answer 17

A curve on a graph that shows the average response of an orientation- tuned neuron such as a simple cell to stimuli with different orientations

Question 18

Population code

Answer 18

A consistent difference in the patterning of the relative responses of a population of differently tuned neurons

Question 19

Complex cells

Answer 19

Neurons in area v1 that respond best to a stimulus with a particular orientation; differ from simple cells in the variety and location of stimuli that generate a response

Question 20

Corticol column

Answer 20

A small volume of neural tissue running through the layers of the cortex perpendicular to its surface; consists of neurons that respond to similar types of stimuli and that have highly overlapping receptive fields

Question 21

Ocular dominance columns

Answer 21

Corticol columns consisting of neurons that receive signals from the left eye only or the right eye only

Question 22

Orientation columns

Answer 22

Corticol columns consisting of neurons with the same ( or very similar) orientation tuning

Question 23

Cortical magnification

Answer 23

The non uniform representation of visual space in the cortex; the amount of cortical territory devoted to the central part of the visual field is much greater than the amount devoted to the periphery.

Question 24

Dorsal pathway

Answer 24

A visual pathway that runs from v1 and v2 into MT and then to the parietal cortex; represents properties that related to an objects motion or location and that can be used to guide actions

Question 25

Ventral Pathway

Answer 25

A visual pathway that runs from v1 and v2 into v4 and then to the inferotemporal cortex; represents properties that relay to an objects identity

Question 26

Optic ataxia

Answer 26

A deficit in the ability to guide movements visually

Question 27

V4

Answer 27

An area in the occipital lobe consisting of neurons that respond selectively to the color of stimuli and to the curvature of edges

Question 28

Inferotemporal cortex (IT cortex)

Answer 28

The cortex in the bottom part of the temporal lobe; one of the object-selective regions of the visual system

Question 29

Lateral occipital cortex

Answer 29

An area of the occipital lobe; on of the object -selective regions of the visual system

Question 30

Fusions face area (FFA)

Answer 30

An area in the fusiform gyrus of the IT cortex; a functional module that responds selectively to faces

Question 31

Parahippocampal place area (PPA)

Answer 31

An area in the para hippocampal gyrus of the IT cortex; a functional module that responds selectively to large scale spatial layouts such as landscapes and buildings.

Question 32

MT

Answer 32

An area in the middle temporal lobe consisting of neurons that respond selectively to the direction and speed of motion of stimuli

Question 33

visual neuroprosthetic devices

Answer 33

Devices designed to help the blind see; relays signals from a camera or photocells to implanted stimulators that activate the visual system