Chapter Ten Homework

1. What is the source of most of the input to the left LGN?

The left LGN receives retinal information about the right visual
field. Left LGN neurons receive synaptic input from the retinal
ganglion cells in the nasal half of the right retina and the
temporal half of the left retina. In the left LGN, the left eye
axons synapse on cells in layers 2, 3, and 5 and the right eye
axons synapse on cells in layers 1, 4, and 6.
2. What is meant by the statement that there is a map of the
visual world in the striate cortex?
Each striate cortex receives input from one LGN, which means
each cortex will receive input from the opposite half of the
visual world. The left striate cortex will receive input from the
left half of each retina, which corresponds to the right half of
the world. Now each point of this left half of each retina is
projected to a distinct point on the cortex. Now, adjacent
locations on the retina project to adjacent points on the striate
cortex. If you were to take the retina and the striate cortex
and lay them out flat, the retina would be the terrain and the
striate cortex would be a map of that terrain. A point-by-point
relationship occurs between the retina and the striate cortex
and can be considered a topographic map, therefore, the
cortex is said to have a retinotopic map of the retina.
3. What is parallel processing in the visual system? Give two
examples.
Parallel processing is the ability of the brain to process
incoming stimuli simultaneously in different ways. This is
extremely important in vision. Some examples include our two
eyes, and on and off bipolar cells.
4. If a child is born cross-eyed and the condition is not corrected
before the age of 10 years, binocular depth perception will be
lost forever. This is explained by a modification in the circuitry
of the visual system. From our knowledge of the central visual
system, where do you think the circuitry has been modified?

The noncorresponding input from the two misaligned eyes

prevents the formation of binocular neurons in the striate
cortex or any extra striate visual area.