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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.

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.

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Association Areas of the Cortex

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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,...

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The somatosensory cortex in the parietal lobes is crucial for interpreting sensory data such as touch, temperature, and proprioception. The somatosensory cortex, situated in the parietal lobes, plays a vital role in interpreting sensory information like touch, temperature, and proprioception—awareness of body position. This specialized brain region features an organized structure wherein neurons at the top primarily process sensations originating from the lower body. In contrast, those at the...

Visual System

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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.
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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 3, 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

Imagery for shapes activates position-invariant representations in human visual cortex.

Mark Stokes¹, Ana Saraiva, Gustavo Rohenkohl

¹Oxford University, Department of Experimental Psychology, Oxford, UK. mark.stokes@sjc.ox.ac.uk

|March 8, 2011

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Visual imagery activates object-centered codes in the brain, demonstrating that top-down control can generate specific visual activity without sensory input. This research explores the neural basis of imagination and visual perception.

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Last Updated: Jun 3, 2026

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

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Published on: May 12, 2019

Area of Science:

Neuroscience
Cognitive Psychology
Visual Perception

Background:

Top-down control mechanisms are crucial for cognitive functions like visual imagery.
Understanding how the brain processes visual information during imagination is key to understanding perception.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate whether top-down control during visual imagery can activate position-invariant perceptual codes.
To determine if imagined shapes elicit similar neural patterns as perceived shapes in higher-level visual areas.

Main Methods:

Utilized multivoxel pattern analysis (MVPA) to identify shape-selective visual cortical areas.
Compared neural patterns from visual imagery of simple shapes (X, O) with those from actual perception.
Focused on object-centered codes within a position-invariant reference frame.

Main Results:

Visual imagery selectively activates position-invariant shape codes in specialized visual areas like the lateral occipital complex (LOC).
Imagery engages object-centered codes in higher-level visual areas, similar to perception.
Top-down control successfully generated specific visual activity patterns without sensory input.

Conclusions:

Top-down control mechanisms can precisely modulate neural activity in visual cortex during imagery.
A comprehensive model of top-down control must include dynamic functional connectivity between control centers and visual cortex.
This study provides insights into the neural basis of visual imagination and its relationship to perception.