The Neural Control of Vision

A. Introduction

Among the senses, the brain of primates devotes most space to the analysis of vision. In addition to the numerous subcortical regions, in the cortex more than 30 thirty visual areas have been identified. The analysis of the visual scene is a complex undertaking; we are only now starting to learn about how the brain goes about performing this job. We typically identify several basic aspects of visual analysis that includes the perception of color, brightness, motion, depth, texture, and shape. Whether there are separate brain areas specifically devoted to the analysis of each of these attributes is still unclear. It appears now that most visual areas in cortex actually co-processes several different visual attributes; consequently why we have so many cortical areas for vision is still a largely unsolved question.

In the Schiller Lab the workings of the visual system have been studied for many years. Using behavioral and physiological methods, the research is carried out both in animals and in patients who have suffered infarcts in various brain structures.