V1-bypassing thalamo-cortical visual circuits in blindsight and developmental dyslexia

Vision rests on computations that primarily rely on the parvocellular and magnocellular geniculate relay of retinal signals to V1. Secondary pathways involving superior colliculus, koniocellular lateral geniculate nucleus and pulvinar and their V1-bypassing projections to higher order cortex are known to exist. While they may form an evolutionary old visual system, their contribution to perception and visually guided behaviour remain largely obscure. Recent developments in tract tracing and circuit manipulation technologies provide new insights. Here we discuss how secondary visual pathways mediate residual vision (blindsight) after V1 injury by relaying signals directly into higher order cortical areas. We contrast these findings on blindsight with new studies on dyslexia suggesting that dysfunction of secondary visual pathways might contribute to dyslexic's perceptual difficulties. Emerging from these considerations, secondary visual pathways involving koniocellular LGN may be critical for detection of visual change, whereas pulvinar function appears more linked to visuomotor planning.