Visual Awareness Due to Neuronal Activities in Subcortical Structures: A Proposal

Sewards, Terence V.; Sewards, Mark A.

doi:10.1006/ccog.1999.0427

Cited by 29 publications

(15 citation statements)

References 149 publications

(166 reference statements)

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“…There are, in addition, many more modules that merely process information (i.e., where activities are either purely computational and/or serve to refine sensory information), and activities in these modules do not contribute to consciousness. For example, in the primate visual system subcortical visual representations in the superior colliculus and pretectal nuclei do not contribute to visual awareness, while in rodents and submammalian vertebrates they probably do (Sewards & Sewards, 2000a). In addition, we feel that most, if not all, of the computational operations that are necessary for the cognitive aspects of consciousness are processed without awareness, and the results of these computations serve to activate neurons in specific modules that provide the awareness of those aspects.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 92%

On the Neural Correlates of Object Recognition Awareness: Relationship to Computational Activities and Activities Mediating Perceptual Awareness

Sewards

2002

Consciousness and Cognition

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 92%

On the Neural Correlates of Object Recognition Awareness: Relationship to Computational Activities and Activities Mediating Perceptual Awareness

Sewards

2002

Consciousness and Cognition

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“…A similar transient extra-geniculostriate pathway may be responsible for residual vision in monkeys and humans, although no evidence for such a pathway has been found (Sorenson and Rodman 1999). It has even been hypothesized that there is a period in infancy when visual awareness is partially due to activities in the superior colliculus (Sewards and Sewards 2000).…”

Section: Motion Perceptionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Conscious visual abilities in a patient with early bilateral occipital damage

Giaschi

Jan

Björnson

et al. 2003

Dev Med Child Neurol

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A 21-year-old male presented with occipital lobes that were extensively damaged by bilateral infarcts present at birth. The absence of the striate cortex was confirmed with anatomic and functional MRI and high-resolution EEG. His cortical visual impairment was severe, but he retained a remarkable ability to see fast-moving stimuli. Horizontal optokinetic nystagmus could be elicited from either eye. Resolution acuity was close to normal providing the patient was allowed to move his head and eyes. The direction of motion in random-dot patterns could be discriminated with perfect accuracy at speeds above 2 deg/s, and the patient reported that he could 'see' the motion at fast but not at slow speeds. This conscious residual vision for motion is known as Riddoch's phenomenon, but it has never been reported in the complete absence of the striate cortex. Functional neuroimaging revealed activation that was outside the motion-responsive regions of the extrastriate cortex. This case demonstrates remarkable plasticity in the human visual system and may have implications for understanding the functional organization of the motion pathways.

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“…In cats, this is attributed to a pathway from the dorsal lateral geniculate nucleus to motion sensitive regions of the cortex that normally retracts in adulthood but is retained and expanded when the striate cortex is damaged in infancy (Payne et al 1996). It has even been hypothesized that there is a period in infancy when visual awareness is partially due to activities in the superior colliculus (Sewards and Sewards 2000). It has even been hypothesized that there is a period in infancy when visual awareness is partially due to activities in the superior colliculus (Sewards and Sewards 2000).…”

Section: Motion Perceptionmentioning

confidence: 99%