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Related Concept Videos

Vision01:24

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.
Visual System01:26

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...
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,...
The Retina01:32

The Retina

The retina is a layer of nervous tissue at the back of the eye that transduces light into neural signals. This process, called phototransduction, is carried out by rod and cone photoreceptor cells in the back of the retina.
Depth Perception and Spatial Vision01:15

Depth Perception and Spatial Vision

Depth perception is the ability to perceive objects three-dimensionally. It relies on two types of cues: binocular and monocular. Binocular cues depend on the combination of images from both eyes and how the eyes work together. Since the eyes are in slightly different positions, each eye captures a slightly different image. This disparity between images, known as binocular disparity, helps the brain interpret depth. When the brain compares these images, it determines the distance to an object.
Motor and Sensory Areas of the Cortex01:14

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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Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 30, 2026

Visualizing Visual Adaptation
04:43

Visualizing Visual Adaptation

Published on: April 24, 2017

Early human visual cortex encodes surface brightness induced by dynamic context.

Vincent van de Ven1, Bert Jans, Rainer Goebel

  • 1Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Faculty of Psychology and Neuroscience, Maastricht University, P.O. Box 616, 6200 MD Maastricht, The Netherlands. v.vandeven@maastrichtuniversity.nl

Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience
|August 25, 2011
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Researchers found early visual cortex activity aligns with perceived brightness, not just boundaries. This suggests a signal for surface perception exists in the brain's initial visual processing areas.

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Visualizing Visual Adaptation
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Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI) of the Visual Cortex with Wide-View Retinotopic Stimulation
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Published on: December 8, 2023

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Published on: May 12, 2019

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Visual Perception
  • Computational Neuroscience

Background:

  • Visual scene perception relies heavily on surface properties like color and brightness.
  • Early visual cortical areas primarily process surface boundaries, with debate on their role in surface interior perception.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate if early human visual cortex contains signals relevant for surface perception.
  • To explore the neural basis of illusory brightness perception.

Main Methods:

  • Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) was used in seven human participants.
  • Illusory brightness was induced by temporally modulating the luminance of surrounding surfaces while keeping a central surface physically constant.

Main Results:

  • fMRI activity in the V2 region of the constant surface was antiphase to surrounding luminance changes, correlating with perceived brightness.
  • The amplitude of this antiphase fMRI activity predicted the strength of the illusory brightness perception.

Conclusions:

  • Findings provide evidence for a surface-related signal within early visual cortex.
  • Discusses potential neural mechanisms and interactions with fMRI signal properties for surface perception.