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| visualprocessing [2025/02/22 14:19] – [Anatomy of the Occipital Lobe] andrewtaustin | visualprocessing [2025/02/22 14:22] (current) – [Visual Processing Pathway] andrewtaustin |
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| Visual processing begins when light enters the eye, stimulating photoreceptors (rods and cones) in the retina. The signal travels through the following stages: | Visual processing begins when light enters the eye, stimulating photoreceptors (rods and cones) in the retina. The signal travels through the following stages: |
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| 1. **Retina**: Converts light into electrical impulses via ganglion cells, which form the optic nerve. | * **Retina**: Converts light into electrical impulses via ganglion cells, which form the optic nerve. |
| 2. **Optic Chiasm**: Nasal fibers from each eye cross, ensuring both hemispheres receive input from both visual hemifields. | * **Optic Chiasm**: Nasal fibers from each eye cross, ensuring both hemispheres receive input from both visual hemifields. |
| 3. **Lateral Geniculate Nucleus (LGN)**: A thalamic relay station that organizes and forwards signals to V1. | * **Lateral Geniculate Nucleus (LGN)**: A thalamic relay station that organizes and forwards signals to V1. |
| 4. **Primary Visual Cortex (V1)**: Analyzes basic features like edges, orientation, and contrast. | * **Primary Visual Cortex (V1)**: Analyzes basic features like edges, orientation, and contrast. |
| 5. **Higher Visual Areas**: V2-V5 and beyond integrate these features into coherent perceptions (e.g., recognizing a face or detecting motion). | * **Higher Visual Areas**: V2-V5 and beyond integrate these features into coherent perceptions (e.g., recognizing a face or detecting motion). |
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| This hierarchical processing allows the brain to construct a detailed, dynamic representation of the visual world. | This hierarchical processing allows the brain to construct a detailed, dynamic representation of the visual world. |