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Vision

Vision

Vision is the result of light being detected and transduced into neural signals by the retina of the eye. This information is then further analyzed and interpreted by the brain. First, light enters the front of the eye and is focused by the cornea and lens onto the retina—a thin sheet of neural tissue lining the back of the eye. Because of refraction through the convex lens of the eye, images are projected onto the retina upside-down and reversed.

Motor and Sensory Areas of the Cortex

Motor and Sensory Areas of the Cortex

The cerebral cortex, the brain's outermost layer, is pivotal in processing complex cognitive tasks, emotions, and various sensory inputs and executing voluntary motor activities. This intricate structure is divided into three primary functional areas: the motor areas, sensory areas, and association areas.
Motor Areas
The motor areas located in the frontal lobe are central to controlling voluntary movements. This region is further subdivided into the primary motor cortex and the premotor cortex.

Diencephalon: Thalamus and Information Relay

Diencephalon: Thalamus and Information Relay

The thalamus, often called “the gateway to the cerebral cortex,” is vital in processing and directing sensory and motor signals throughout the brain. Almost all inputs destined for the cerebral cortex, except for olfactory signals, are relayed through the thalamus. The thalamus is a sophisticated relay station, channeling information from various brain regions to the cerebral cortex, as well as a filter, prioritizing certain signals over others based on current physiological states or needs.

Association Areas of the Cortex

Association Areas of the Cortex

Association areas are regions of the cerebral cortex that do not have a specific sensory or motor function. Instead, they integrate and interpret information from various sources to enable higher cognitive processes such as memory, learning, and decision-making. Some key association areas include the following:
Prefrontal Association Area: This area is located in the frontal lobe and is involved in planning, decision-making, and moderating social behavior. It connects with primary motor areas,...

Auditory Pathway

Auditory Pathway

Auditory pathways constitute the complex neural circuits responsible for transmitting and interpreting auditory information from the peripheral auditory system to the brain. Sound waves are initially captured by the outer ear, funneled through the ear canal, and reach the tympanic membrane (eardrum). These vibrations are transmitted via the middle ear's ossicles to the inner ear's cochlea.
When viewed cross-sectionally, the cochlea reveals the scala vestibuli and scala tympani flanking the...

Somatosensory, Motor, and Association Cortex

Somatosensory, Motor, and Association Cortex

The somatosensory cortex in the parietal lobes is crucial for interpreting sensory data such as touch, temperature, and proprioception. The somatosensory cortex, situated in the parietal lobes, plays a vital role in interpreting sensory information like touch, temperature, and proprioception—awareness of body position. This specialized brain region features an organized structure wherein neurons at the top primarily process sensations originating from the lower body. In contrast, those at the...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 20, 2026

Methods to Explore the Influence of Top-down Visual Processes on Motor Behavior

Methods to Explore the Influence of Top-down Visual Processes on Motor Behavior

Published on: April 16, 2014

Functional alignment of feedback effects from visual cortex to thalamus.

Wei Wang¹, Helen E Jones, Ian M Andolina

¹Institute of Ophthalmology, University College London, Bath Street, London EC1V 9EL, UK.

Nature Neuroscience

|September 19, 2006

Summary

Researchers found that layer 6 simple cells in the cat visual cortex mirror the receptive field properties of their target thalamic cells. However, the on- and off-zones show a phase-reversed influence, impacting visual processing.

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Area of Science:

Neuroscience
Visual System Research
Cortical-Thalamic Interactions

Background:

Classical work established links between visual thalamus and layer 4 simple cells in the visual cortex.
Receptive field properties like orientation and on/off-zones are crucial for visual information processing.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the relationship between layer 6 simple cells in the cat visual cortex and their target thalamic cells.
To determine if feedback pathways from layer 6 cells mirror thalamic receptive field properties.

Main Methods:

Electrophysiological recordings in cat visual cortex.
Analysis of receptive field properties (orientation, on/off-zones) of layer 6 cells and their thalamic inputs.
Comparison of receptive field alignment and properties between connected cells.

Main Results:

Layer 6 simple cells' receptive fields are aligned with their contacted thalamic cells.
The orientation and on/off-zone properties of layer 6 cells are linked to thalamic cells.
A phase-reversed pattern of influence was observed for on- and off-zones.

Conclusions:

Feedback from layer 6 visual cortex cells to the thalamus is organized by receptive field alignment.
The phase-reversed on/off-zone influence suggests specific functional roles in visual processing.
This finding extends the understanding of cortico-thalamic circuitry and visual information flow.