Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 4, 2026

Measuring Connectivity in the Primary Visual Pathway in Human Albinism Using Diffusion Tensor Imaging and Tractography
13:26

Measuring Connectivity in the Primary Visual Pathway in Human Albinism Using Diffusion Tensor Imaging and Tractography

Published on: August 11, 2016

Absence of subcortical pathway optokinetic eye movements in an infant with cortical blindness

L Tychsen1

  • 1Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, St. Louis Children's Hospital at Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, MO, USA.

Strabismus
|February 15, 2011
PubMed

Insights

Infants with cortical vision damage cannot guide eye movements using subcortical vision. Retinotectal pathways do not drive eye movements in young humans without cortical vision, even with visual stimuli.

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Developmental Psychology
  • Ophthalmology

Background:

  • Infants' visuomotor behaviors are thought to be guided by subcortical vision.
  • Previous studies suggest infants with visual cortex damage may rely on subcortical pathways.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the role of subcortical vision in infant eye movement control.
  • To determine if retinotectal visual inputs can drive eye movements in the absence of cortical vision.

Main Methods:

  • Recorded eye movements in a 5-month-old infant with acquired cortical blindness.
  • Presented a full-field, high-contrast visual stimulus to assess optokinetic nystagmus.

Main Results:

  • The infant showed no evidence of optokinetic nystagmus despite the visual stimulus.
  • This indicates a lack of visually guided eye movements.

Conclusions:

  • Retinotectal visual inputs are insufficient to drive eye movements in young humans without cortical vision.
  • Cortical vision is essential for developing visuomotor behaviors in infants.

More Related Videos

PyOKR: A Semi-Automated Method for Quantifying Optokinetic Reflex Tracking Ability05:26

PyOKR: A Semi-Automated Method for Quantifying Optokinetic Reflex Tracking Ability

Published on: April 12, 2024

A Highly Reproducible and Straightforward Method to Perform In Vivo Ocular Enucleation in the Mouse after Eye Opening05:29

A Highly Reproducible and Straightforward Method to Perform In Vivo Ocular Enucleation in the Mouse after Eye Opening

Published on: October 6, 2014

Related Concept Videos

Visual Agnosia01:12

Visual Agnosia

Visual agnosia is a condition characterized by the inability to recognize visually presented objects despite having normal vision. For instance, a person with visual agnosia can describe the shape and color of an object but cannot identify or name it. This impairment does not affect their visual field, acuity, color vision, brightness discrimination, language, or memory. An example of this condition in a social setting is someone at a dinner party asking for "that silver thing with a round end"...
Photoreceptors and Visual Pathways01:22

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...
Prosopagnosia01:24

Prosopagnosia

Prosopagnosia, also known as face blindness, is the inability to recognize faces. In severe cases, individuals with prosopagnosia may not recognize close family members, including parents and spouses, by their faces. For instance, someone with prosopagnosia might walk past their child in a crowd, only realizing their mistake upon noticing their child's distinctive backpack or favorite jacket. Prosopagnosia specifically impairs facial recognition, while the recognition of other objects or...
Anatomy of the Eyeball01:20

Anatomy of the Eyeball

The eye is a spherical, hollow structure composed of three tissue layers. The outer layer — the fibrous tunic, comprises the sclera — a white structure — and the cornea, which is transparent. The sclera encompasses some of the ocular surface, most of which is not visible. However, the 'white of the eye' is distinctively visible in humans compared to other species. The cornea, a clear covering at the front of the eye, enables light penetration. The eye's middle layer, the vascular tunic,...