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Investigating Object Representations in the Macaque Dorsal Visual Stream Using Single-unit Recordings
Published on: August 1, 2018
The cortical visual area V6 in macaque and human brains
Patrizia Fattori1, Sabrina Pitzalis, Claudio Galletti
1Department of Human and General Physiology, University of Bologna, Italy. patrizia.fattori@unibo.it
Journal of Physiology, Paris
|June 16, 2009
Summary
Researchers identified a new visual area, V6, in both monkeys and humans. This area, located in the medial parieto-occipital cortex, is crucial for detecting and recognizing visual motion direction.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Visual Perception
- Primate Brain Mapping
Background:
- The temporo-parieto-occipital cortex contains a mosaic of visual areas.
- Neuroimaging has mapped human visual areas based on primate homologies.
- Previous research identified extrastriate visual areas with retinotopic maps.
Purpose of the Study:
- To describe a newly identified retinotopically-organized visual area, V6.
- To investigate the location and function of V6 in both macaque monkeys and humans.
- To determine the role of V6 in visual motion processing.
Main Methods:
- Single-cell recording in monkeys.
- Neuro-anatomical techniques in monkeys.
- Neuroimaging methods in humans.
Main Results:
- Area V6 was identified in the medial parieto-occipital cortex of both species.
- V6 contains a retinotopic map of the contralateral hemifield, lacking central visual field emphasis.
- V6 neurons are sensitive to motion direction, acting as motion detectors.
- Damage to human V6 correlates with deficits in motion recognition.
Conclusions:
- Area V6 is a distinct visual area in primates.
- V6 plays a critical role in the recognition of visual motion direction.
- V6 is a key component of the dorsal visual stream involved in motion perception.
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