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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.
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 8, 2026

A Large Lateral Craniotomy Procedure for Mesoscale Wide-field Optical Imaging of Brain Activity
10:05

A Large Lateral Craniotomy Procedure for Mesoscale Wide-field Optical Imaging of Brain Activity

Published on: May 7, 2017

Visual Mental Imagery Activates Topographically Organized Visual Cortex: PET Investigations.

S M Kosslyn1, N M Alpert, W L Thompson

  • 1* Harvard University.

Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience
|August 27, 2013
PubMed
Summary

Mental imagery activates specific visual cortex regions, suggesting topographically mapped processing. This brain activity differs from perception and may involve distinct attentional and memory-based imagery types.

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Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI) of the Visual Cortex with Wide-View Retinotopic Stimulation
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Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI) of the Visual Cortex with Wide-View Retinotopic Stimulation

Published on: December 8, 2023

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: May 8, 2026

A Large Lateral Craniotomy Procedure for Mesoscale Wide-field Optical Imaging of Brain Activity
10:05

A Large Lateral Craniotomy Procedure for Mesoscale Wide-field Optical Imaging of Brain Activity

Published on: May 7, 2017

Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI) of the Visual Cortex with Wide-View Retinotopic Stimulation
07:11

Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI) of the Visual Cortex with Wide-View Retinotopic Stimulation

Published on: December 8, 2023

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Cognitive Psychology
  • Neuroimaging

Background:

  • Mental imagery involves generating visual perceptions without direct sensory input.
  • Understanding the neural correlates of mental imagery is crucial for cognitive neuroscience.
  • Previous research suggests overlap between perception and imagery in visual processing areas.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the neural activation patterns during visual mental imagery using positron emission tomography (PET).
  • To compare brain activity during mental imagery tasks with analogous perceptual tasks.
  • To explore the topographical organization and potential subtypes of visual mental imagery.

Main Methods:

  • Three PET experiments measuring cerebral blood flow during visual imagery and perception tasks.
  • Subjects visualized or perceived letters in grids and made decisions.
  • Stimuli varied in size and degradation, with eyes open or closed conditions.

Main Results:

  • Mental imagery selectively activated specific regions within visual areas 17 and 18, distinct from perceptual tasks.
  • Imagery activated the anterior part of area 17, suggesting involvement of regions beyond the stimulus size.
  • Image size influenced activation patterns, with smaller images activating posterior visual cortex and larger images activating anterior portions, supporting topographic mapping.
  • Evidence suggests two types of imagery: attention-based pattern formation and memory-based activation.

Conclusions:

  • Visual mental imagery recruits specific, topographically organized regions within the visual cortex.
  • Imagery activation patterns differ from perceptual processing, highlighting distinct neural mechanisms.
  • The findings support the existence of at least two distinct types of visual mental imagery.