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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.

The Retina

The Retina

The retina is a layer of nervous tissue at the back of the eye that transduces light into neural signals. This process, called phototransduction, is carried out by rod and cone photoreceptor cells in the back of the retina.

Visual System

Visual System

Light enters the eye through the cornea, a transparent, dome-shaped surface covering the surface of the eyeball that helps to direct and focus incoming light. This light is then channeled toward the pupil, an adjustable opening whose size is controlled by the iris. The iris, a pigmented muscle, regulates the amount of light entering the eye by contracting or dilating the pupil, thereby ensuring optimal light levels for clear vision.
Once through the pupil, the light passes through the lens, a...

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.

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,...

Photoreceptors and Visual Pathways

Photoreceptors and Visual Pathways

At the molecular level, visual signals trigger transformations in photopigment molecules, resulting in changes in the photoreceptor cell's membrane potential. The photon's energy level is denoted by its wavelength, with each specific wavelength of visible light associated with a distinct color. The spectral range of visible light, classified as electromagnetic radiation, spans from 380 to 720 nm. Electromagnetic radiation wavelengths exceeding 720 nm fall under the infrared category, whereas...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 11, 2026

Investigating Object Representations in the Macaque Dorsal Visual Stream Using Single-unit Recordings

Investigating Object Representations in the Macaque Dorsal Visual Stream Using Single-unit Recordings

Published on: August 1, 2018

Neurons in monkey visual area V2 encode combinations of orientations.

Akiyuki Anzai¹, Xinmiao Peng, David C Van Essen

¹Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Washington University School of Medicine, 660 South Euclid Avenue, St. Louis, Missouri 63110, USA. aanzai@cvs.rochester.edu

Nature Neuroscience

|September 18, 2007

Summary

Neurons in visual area V2 process object contours and textures by responding to combinations of orientations. Some V2 neurons show specialized receptive fields that detect specific orientation combinations, aiding surface segmentation.

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Area of Science:

Neuroscience
Computational Neuroscience
Visual Processing

Background:

Object contours and textures are crucial for surface perception.
These attributes are often encoded by combinations of local orientations in visual input.
Understanding the neural basis of this processing is key to visual neuroscience.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the receptive field (RF) structures of neurons in visual area V2.
To determine how V2 neurons encode combinations of orientations for contour and texture analysis.
To elucidate the neural mechanisms underlying visual surface segmentation.

Main Methods:

Examined receptive field (RF) structures of V2 neurons in macaque monkeys.
Measured orientation tuning at multiple locations within classical RFs.
Assessed interactions between different positions within RFs to identify selectivity for orientation combinations.

Main Results:

A majority (70%) of V2 neurons exhibited uniform orientation tuning across their RFs.
A significant portion of V2 neurons possessed RFs with subregions tuned to different orientations, often 90 degrees apart.
Approximately one-third of V2 neurons displayed inhibitory interactions, indicating selectivity for specific orientation combinations.

Conclusions:

V2 neurons play a critical role in analyzing complex visual attributes like contours and textures.
Specialized RF structures in V2 neurons contribute to the detection of orientation combinations.
These V2 neural mechanisms provide essential cues for effective surface segmentation in visual perception.