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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.

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,...

Cerebral Hemispheres

Cerebral Hemispheres

The human brain, a complex organ, is functionally divided into two cerebral hemispheres—left and right. These hemispheres are interconnected by a structure of paramount importance, the corpus callosum. This substantial bundle of neural fibers is not just a bridge between the hemispheres but a crucial element for the brain's comprehensive functioning. It enables efficient communication between the two hemispheres, allowing each side of the brain to control and receive sensory and motor...

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.

Parallel Processing

Parallel Processing

The brain processes sensory information rapidly due to parallel processing, which involves sending data across multiple neural pathways at the same time. This method allows the brain to manage various sensory qualities, such as shapes, colors, movements, and locations, all concurrently. For instance, when observing a forest landscape, the brain simultaneously processes the movement of leaves, the shapes of trees, the depth between them, and the various shades of green. This enables a quick and...

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...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 21, 2026

Central and Divided Visual Field Presentation of Emotional Images to Measure Hemispheric Differences in Motivated Attention

Central and Divided Visual Field Presentation of Emotional Images to Measure Hemispheric Differences in Motivated Attention

Published on: November 16, 2017

Human brain response to visual stimulus between lower/upper visual fields and cerebral hemispheres.

Bumsuk Lee¹, Yoshiki Kaneoke, Ryusuke Kakigi

¹Department of Occupational Therapy, School of Health Sciences, Gunma University, Maebashi 371-8514, Japan. bslee@health.gunma-u.ac.jp

International Journal of Psychophysiology : Official Journal of the International Organization of Psychophysiology

|August 1, 2009

Summary

This study found that the human brain responds differently to visual stimuli in the upper versus lower left visual fields (VFs). This visual processing difference, observed in parietal regions, highlights hemispheric asymmetry in the brain.

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Published on: December 8, 2023

Area of Science:

Neuroscience
Visual Perception
Brain Imaging

Background:

The human brain processes visual information from different parts of the visual field (VFs) using complex neural networks.
Understanding hemispheric differences in visual processing is crucial for cognitive neuroscience.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the human brain's magnetic response to visual stimuli presented in the upper and lower visual fields.
To compare neural activity latencies and strengths between different VFs and hemispheres.

Main Methods:

Seven healthy volunteers performed a visual search task with randomly presented square stimuli.
Magnetic responses in bilateral parietal regions were recorded 200-250 ms post-stimulus onset.
Response latencies and strengths were analyzed using single sensor and root mean square (RMS) measures.

Main Results:

Significantly longer response latencies (both single sensor and RMS) were found for the lower left VF compared to the upper left VF (P<0.05).
No significant difference in response strength was observed between upper and lower left VFs.
No significant differences in latency or strength were found between the upper and lower right VFs.

Conclusions:

The left visual field exhibits distinct response properties in the upper versus lower VFs, indicating hemispheric asymmetry.
Both local and global extrastriate neural activities contribute to this observed visual processing anisotropy.