Visual Prosthesis

C. The use of implanted electrode arrays

Since the striate cortex has a beautiful topographic layout, it is reasonable to assume that the spatial layout of images in the visual field generate a spatially corresponding layout on the cortical surface, which in turn can serve to perceive the shape of images in the world. The major problem with this assumption is that in the retina, due to the progressively decreasing density of neurons with increasing distance from the fovea, there is a sizeable magnification factor conferred to V1. Consequently much more space is allocated to central than to peripheral vision.