Lectures 7 & 8 - Central Visual Pathways Flashcards
In which central visual pathway structures are the receptive field properties of the retina inherited? What is this called?
Monocular cells (LGN, V1) and binocular cells (V1 and extrastriate) => Retinotopy
What is the central visual pathway?
Retina => optic nerves => optic chiasm => optic tracts => LGN => optic radiations => primary visual cortex => extrastriate cortex => PPC or temporal lobe
What is another name for the central visual pathway?
Retinofugal pathway
What is each optic nerve composed of?
Afferents from only one eye
What is each optic tract composed of?
Afferents from both eyes:
- Temporal retina of ipsilateral eye
- Nasal retina of contralateral eye
Result of small lesion to optic nerve? 2 names
Monocular selective blindness = scotoma: partial loss of vision or a blind spot in an otherwise normal visual field
Result of transection of optic nerve?
Monocular blindness
Result of optic chiasm lesion?
Bitemporal blindness
What is anopsia?
Specific blindness within the visual field
What is the primary target of the optic tracts?
LGN (thalamus)
What are 3 other targets of the optic tracts? Purpose?
- Hypothalamus: suprachiasmatic nucleus for daily biological rythms
- Midbrain: pretectal nucleus for constriction of the pupil and accommodation of the lens
- Midbrain: superior colliculus for movement of the head in response to light
Are LGN cells monocular or binocular?
Monocular
How are the cells organized in the LGN?
Layers according to which eye they receive input from and from what type of RGC
How are receptive field characteristics of the retina inherited by the cells of the LGN?
Each cell only receives input from either M-type, P-type, or nonM-nonP-type RGCs
How are the layers of the cells in the LGN numbered?
Most superficial layer is layer 1
What do we call LGN cells that receive input from P-type RGCs?
Parvocellular
What do we call LGN cells that receive input from M-type RGCs?
Magnocellular
What do we call LGN cells that receive input from nonM-nonP-type RGCs?
Koniocellular
Where are LGN cells that receive input from nonM-nonP-type RGCs located? From what eye do they receive input?
Ventral to each principal layer and receive input from the same eye as the overlying principal layer
Where is the striate cortex located?
Occipital lobe (area 17)
Describe the structure of the striate cortex.
Laminar structure with 6 principal cell layers (I-VI) and additional sub-layers
Who has a larger striate cortex: primates or humans?
Primates
What is the calcarine fissure?
Located on the medial surface of the occipital lobe and divides the visual cortex into two
What is the major input layer of the striate cortex?
Layer IVC
From what cells does layer IVC of the striate cortex receive input?
- Magnocellular LGN
2. Parvocellular LGN
From what cells do other layers of the striate cortex receive input?
Koniocellular LGN
How are cells in layer IVC of the striate cortex organized?
Organized into monocular dominance columns (each column receives input from the same eye)
How were monocular cell layers of the LGN and ocular dominance columns of the IVC layer of the striate cortex identified?
Radioactive tracing
Layer 1 of LGN:
- Ipsilateral or contralateral visual input?
- Type of RGC?
- Contralaterial
2. Magnocellular
Layer 2 of LGN:
- Ipsilateral or contralateral visual input?
- Type of RGC input?
- Ipsilateral
2. M-type
Layer 3 of LGN:
- Ipsilateral or contralateral visual input?
- Type of RGC?
- Ipsilateral
2. P-type
Layer 4 of LGN:
- Ipsilateral or contralateral visual input?
- Type of RGC?
- Contralateral
2. P-type
Layer 5 of LGN:
- Ipsilateral or contralateral visual input?
- Type of RGC?
- Ipsilateral
2. P-type
Layer 6 of LGN:
- Ipsilateral or contralateral visual input?
- Type of RGC?
- Contralateral
2. P-type
What is layer IV of the striate cortex divided into?
Layers a, b, c alpha, c beta
Where do magnocellular LGN neurons project?
Layer IV c alpha of striate cortex
Where do parvocellular LGN neurons project?
Layer IV c beta of striate cortex
Where do koniocellular LGN neurons project?
Layers II and III of striate cortex
How many layers in the striate cortex?
6
What do the cells of the striate cortex that receive input from kionocellular LGN neurons form?
Monocular cells organized in blobs