Vision 2 Flashcards
Retinofugal pathway
- Optic nerve leaving retina
- Portions of optic nerves corresponding to nasal retina decussate at optic chiasm
- Optic tract leaves the optic chiasm
- Optic tract terminates at the lateral geniculate nucleus (LGN) of thalamus
- Projection of LGN to cortex is optic radiation
- Visual cortex (V1) is in the occipital lobe
Diagram of retinofugal pathway
Where is the visual cortex (V1)?
Occipital lobe
Portions of optic nerves corresponding to
nasal retina decussate at the ___
Optic chiasm
The ___ leaves the optic chiasm
Optic tract
Where does the optic tract terminate?
At the LGN of the thalamus
Diagram of visual field: retina
Visual field: retina
What happens if the left optic nerve is cut (left temporal retina and left nasal retina)?
- Left peripheral visual field is lost
- This is because only the left nasal retina carries information on the left peripheral visual field (left temporal retina sees right central visual field but this is also seen by right nasal retina)
What happens if there is damage to the left optic tract (left temporal retina and right nasal retina)?
- Right hemifield is lost
- This is because the optic tract carries information on solely the contralateral hemifield
What happens if the optic chiasm is transected?
- Right and left peripheral visual fields lost
- This is because both peripheral visual fields are only seen by the ipsilateral nasal retina
What damage has this person suffered?
Damage to the left optic tract, causing loss of the right hemifield
What damage has this person suffered?
Damage to the left optic chiasm
What damage has this person suffered?
Damage to the optic chiasm (transected), causing loss of right and left peripheral visual fields
Oh no! I’ve been really clumsy and have somehow managed to lesion my roommate’s right optic nerve. What visual field deficits would my roommate observe?
- Loss of the right peripheral visual field.
- Remember, only the right nasal retina sees the right periphery
What is the receptive field of a neuron?
The area on a sensory surface where a stimulus will modify the firing or electrical activity of that neuron
‘Best’ or ‘optimal’ stimulus for a cell is one that causes the maximal response
● Photoreceptor: Spot of light on retina
● Bipolar cell, ganglion cell, thalamus: Have center/surround antagonistic RFs i.e. ON-center/OFF-surround or OFF-center/ON-surround
● V1: Bar of light with a particular orientation
● Dorsal secondary visual area: Spots of light moving in particular direction → motion processing
● Ventral secondary visual area: Biologically significant objects → form/color processing
PR –> BP + Horizontal table (separate into flashcards)
On-off center surround table (separate into flashcards)
Bipolar cell response
1
Bipolar cell response diagram
Describe features of ON bipolar cells
- Metabotropic glutamate receptor: glutamate causes Na+ channels to close –> hyperpolarization (exception to glutamate being depolarizing)
- Sign inverting: PR hyperpolarizes to light –> less glutamate –> contrarily makes the ON bipolar cell depolarize
- ON: the light activates/depolarizes this cell
Describe features of OFF bipolar cells
- Ionotropic glutamate receptor: glutamate causes Na+ channels to open –> depolarizing
- Sign preserving: PR hyperpolarizes to light –> less glutamate –> makes the OFF bipolar cell also hyperpolarize
- OFF: the light deactivates/hyperpolarizes this cell
Are ON bipolar cells sign preserving or inverting?
Sign inverting
Are OFF bipolar cells sign preserving or inverting?
Sign preserving