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Updated: Jun 19, 2026
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A Large Lateral Craniotomy Procedure for Mesoscale Wide-field Optical Imaging of Brain Activity
Published on: May 7, 2017
Projection from visual areas V2 and prostriata to caudal auditory cortex in the monkey
Arnaud Falchier1, Charles E Schroeder, Troy A Hackett
1Cognitive Neuroscience and Schizophrenia Program, Nathan Kline Institute for Psychiatric Research, Orangeburg, NY 10962, USA.
Cerebral Cortex (New York, N.Y. : 1991)
|October 31, 2009
Summary
This study reveals visual cortex projections to auditory areas in macaque monkeys, suggesting a feedback pathway for spatial localization. These findings enhance our understanding of multisensory interactions in the brain.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Primate Neuroanatomy
Background:
- Multisensory interactions occur near primary visual and auditory cortices.
- Direct projections from auditory to visual cortex suggest auditory influence on low-level visual processing.
Purpose of the Study:
- Investigate reciprocal projections from visual cortex to caudal auditory cortex in macaque monkeys.
- Clarify the anatomical basis of visual-auditory interactions.
Main Methods:
- Used anatomical tract-tracing techniques in macaque monkeys.
- Injected tracers into visual cortical areas to identify projections to auditory cortex.
Main Results:
- Found direct projections from area prostriata and peripheral V2 to caudal auditory areas.
- Projections were more prominent from temporoparietal area and caudal parabelt.
- Visual projections originated from infragranular layers, indicating feedback connections.
Conclusions:
- Identified visual-to-auditory cortical feedback pathways in primates.
- These connections, localized to peripheral visual and caudal auditory areas, likely play a role in spatial localization.
Related Concept Videos
01:15Auditory 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...
When viewed cross-sectionally, the cochlea reveals the scala vestibuli and scala tympani flanking the...
01:14Motor 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.
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.
01:21Association 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,...
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,...
01:13The Cochlea
The cochlea is a coiled structure in the inner ear that contains hair cells—the sensory receptors of the auditory system. Sound waves are transmitted to the cochlea by small bones attached to the eardrum called the ossicles, which vibrate the oval window that leads to the inner ear. This causes fluid in the chambers of the cochlea to move, vibrating the basilar membrane.
01:31Hearing
When we hear a sound, our nervous system is detecting sound waves—pressure waves of mechanical energy traveling through a medium. The frequency of the wave is perceived as pitch, while the amplitude is perceived as loudness.
01:17Auditory Perception
The auditory system is essential for sound perception, utilizing various critical structures. When sound waves enter the outer ear, they travel through the ear canal and cause the eardrum to vibrate. These vibrations are then transmitted to the middle ear, where three tiny bones – the malleus, incus, and stapes – amplify the sound. This amplification is crucial, as it ensures that the sound vibrations are strong enough to be conveyed to the inner ear. These vibrations then reach the cochlea, a...