Visual Pathways Serving Motion Detection in the Mammalian Brain

Abstract

Motion perception is the process through which one gathers information on the dynamic visual world, in terms of the speed and movement direction of its elements. Motion sensation takes place from the retinal light sensitive elements, through the visual thalamus, the primary and higher visual cortices. In the present review we aim to focus on the extrageniculo-extrastriate cortical and subcortical visual structures of the feline and macaque brain and discuss their functional role in visual motion perception. Special attention is paid to the ascending tectofugal system that may serve for detection of the visual environment during self-motion.

Cortical and thalamic connectivity of occipital visual cortical areas 17, 18, 19, and 21 of the domestic ferret (Mustela putorius furo)

“…In addition, the present study and those in the cat indicate that external to the occipital visual areas, area PMLS forms a distinct network hub, as it is reciprocally connected with all four occipital visual areas, distinguishing PMLS from all other nonoccipital visual cortical regions. PMLS is involved in detection of visual motion perception, as well as motion analysis, shifts in attention and the discrimination of speed (Cantone et al, 2006;Krüger, Kiefer, Groh, Dinse, & von Seelen, 1993;Rauschecker, von Grünau, & Poulin, 1987;Rokszin et al, 2010;Spear & Baumann, 1975) and thus it is heavily implicated in dorsal visual stream functioning, which involves the parietal cortex (Cantone et al, 2006;Cloutman, 2013). Furthermore, the notion exists that PMLS may have a role in molding neuronal responses of the visual cortex, as well as facilitating the presence of parallel circuits to carry out different visual functions (Cantone et al, 2006;Spear & Baumann, 1979).…”

Cortical and thalamic connectivity of occipital visual cortical areas 17, 18, 19 and 21 of the domestic ferret (Mustela putorius furo).

“…In addition, the present study and those in the cat indicate that external to the occipital visual areas, area PMLS forms a distinct network hub, as it is reciprocally connected with all four occipital visual areas, distinguishing PMLS from all other non-occipital visual cortical regions. PMLS is involved in detection of visual motion perception, as well as motion analysis, shifts in attention and the discrimination of speed (Spear & Baumann, 1975;Rauschecker, von Grünau, & Poulin, 1987;Krüger, Kiefer, Groh, Dinse, & von Seelen, 1993;Cantone et al, 2006;Rokszin, Márkus, Braunitzer, Berényi, Benedek, & Nagy, 2010) and thus it is heavily implicated in dorsal visual stream functioning, which involves the parietal cortex (Cantone et al, 2006;Cloutman, 2013). Furthermore, the notion exists that PMLS may have a role in molding neuronal responses of the visual cortex, as well as facilitating the presence of parallel circuits to carry out different visual functions (Spear & Baumann 1979;Cantone et al, 2006).…”

Anger superiority effect for change detection and change blindness

“…However, the motion-specific cortical area of the occipital brain MT/V5 also participates in the process (Lechak & Leber, 2011). It has been proposed that the SC-pulvinar-MT/V5 is an effective combined change and motion detector system in the primate brain (Rokszin et al, 2010).…”