How the Visual System in the Brain Works
Our visual system features a built-in hierarchy in which visual input enters the eye and neurons transfer this visual data to the appropriate areas of the brain for processing. This visual data arrive at the most basic processing areas first, such as V1.
Within these areas neurons are mapped retinotopically with location adjustments in the visual scenes being represented in close locations in the brain. These neurons are activated only when stimuli enter their receptive field, that is, the area in the environment which activates the neurons.
As the visual input continues processing, the brain areas in charge of the analysis become more complex until, at some point, neurons react only to very complex stimuli, such as people’s faces.
Hubel and Wiesel Expose Visual System
A famous experiment conducted in 1959 by Nobel Prize winners, Hubel and Wiesel, found that some neurons in the visual cortex are activated by lines presented in specific locations and at specific angles in the visual fields.
Click here to view a video illustrating one of Hubel and Wiesel’s famous experiments.
In the video you can see the scenes presented to an anesthetized cat and hear the firing of the neurons from a micro-electrode implanted in the cat’s brain. The results of the experiment affected neuroscience greatly, particularly our understanding of visual processing in the brain.
Sarit Szpiro, Maister Artium, is a cognitive psychologist at Mind360, a leading scientific brain training games developer for boosting your memory, attention, executive functions, reasoning, and other key cognitive skills. As a Mind360 visitor you simply select your own Personal Training Program, which comes complete with a personal coach and constant feedback to ensure your swift and visible progress.
