Learning Objectives

1.) Describe the four characteristics of vision and give an example of each.

2.) Explain what is meant by the statement "vision is an intelligent activity of a finely tuned brain."

3.) Describe the anatomical makeup of the optic nerve as well as its general purpose in vision. Provide a description of the optic nerve pathway including mention of the various fibers.

4.) Discuss in detail the location and importance of the superior colliculus to visual processing. Explain why it is referred to as a primitive visual area.

5.) Describe in detail the anatomical and physiological properties of the lateral geniculate nucleus (LGN) and specify the many roles that it fulfills in visual processing.

6.) Compare and contrast the magnocellular and parvocellular neurons. Include their location in the LGN as well as their individual roles in visual processing.

7.) Describe in detail the location and importance of the visual cortex including its relationship to the LGN.

8.) Define and explain what is meant by cortical magnification and why it is an important factor in visual processing. Include in your explanation reasons why the largest part of the cortex is devoted to one of the smallest regions of the retina (the fovea).

9.) Discuss what is meant by 'blindness' and explain why a simple definition is difficult.

10.) Specify and discuss the structures and features of the visual cortex. Include in your discussion the simple, complex, and hypercomplex cortical cells and their roles in vision.

11.) Explain what is meant by the oblique effect and contrast it with meridional amblyopia. Discuss the two most prevalent theories regarding this effect.

12.) Explain what is meant when referring to cortical cells as 'feature detectors' and discuss the apparent problems with using this as a description.

13.) Diagram the complete anatomy of the visual pathway from the retinal level to the visual cortex and include explanations of the most important aspects of vision occurring at each anatomical level.