Modularity and Visual Pathways

Question 1

Physiological modules

Answer 1

Specialised to process information of a particular perceptual type

Question 2

Examples of physiologically defined visual processing modules

Answer 2

Middle temporal area
Infertemporal cortex

Question 3

Middle temporal (MT) area

Answer 3

Cells respond to visual movement
90% of neurons respond only to movement in particular directions

Question 4

Inferotemporal cortex (IT)

Answer 4

Cell respond selectively to simple and complex stimuli

Question 5

Examples of simple stimuli responded to by the inferotemporal cortex

Answer 5

Slits, spots, elipses, squares

Question 6

Example of complex stimuli responded to by the inferotemporal cortex

Answer 6

Faces

Question 7

Specialisation of modules

Answer 7

Can be defined at different levels of sensory processing
More specialised modules within a larger module

Question 8

Modules in cognitive psychology

Answer 8

Functionally defined and hypothetical rather than based on localisation

Question 9

Fodor (1983) on modules

Answer 9

Tend to be domain specific, innately specified, informationally encapsulated, fast, hardwired, and/or autonomous

Question 10

Coltheart (1999) on modules

Answer 10

Defining feature is that they are domain specific
Only responds to stimuli of a particular class

Question 11

Information encapsulation

Answer 11

Modules are fast as they only have access to required information
Receives top-down input from outside of the module

Question 12

Pathway of the retina to the cortex

Answer 12

Photoreceptors > retinal ganglion cells > optic nerve > lateral geniculate nucleus > visual cortex

Question 13

Retinoptic maps

Answer 13

Each location on the retina’s surface level corresponds to a location on the visual cortex

Question 14

Cortical maginification factor

Answer 14

Area of cortex devoted to an area of visual field varies with eccentricity
More eccentric = more peripheral = fewer cells on retina = smaller area of cortex

Question 15

Sub-cortical pathways

Answer 15

Largest projection goes to visual cortex via lateral geniculate nucleus

Question 16

Superior colliculus

Answer 16

Evolved from the optic tectum
Sub-cortical projections go there

Question 17

Brain damage in patients with blindsight

Answer 17

Damage in visual cortex or pathways to visual cortex
No visual experience in damaged areas but can respond accurately to visual stimuli presented there

Question 18

Kentridge et al (1997)

Answer 18

Phenomenon of blindsight is explained by processing in sub-cortical pathways