Areas of the brain involved in visual learning

Areas of the brain involved in visual learning

-By Timothy Lyons

The first of one of several areas of the brain involved in visual learning is the Cortex. From (Carson & Birkett, 2017) we can see that visual representation moves from the retinas into an area of the thalamus called the lateral geniculate nucleus. This information is processed and is then sent to the striate cortex. This data is analyzed further and sent to the extra striate cortex. The extra striate cortex splits the information and sends it further along the visual association cortex. This spilt information is sent along ventrally to the inferior temporal cortex or dorsally to the posterior parietal cortex dependent upon the type of information that has been input. These areas are associated with the “what” as in what is the object in the inferior temporal cortex and the “where” which is information of object location, both types of learning used in object recognition.

When an object is viewed, changes are made to this area. Changes in synapses in this area create new neural connections as a result of visual input.  These changes are known as perceptual memories. The object is perceived by sight and it is translated into neurons in the extra striate cortex. Once these neurons are in place, at any time that this information is seen again, these same neurons then become activated. This is what is known as recognition, which happens after learning the stimulus. Under functional magnetic resonance imaging when persons are asked questions about visually learned stimulus, activity in the area of the visual association cortex takes place. This is an indicator that there that previous learning has taken place (Carson & Birkett, 2017).

References for Areas of the brain involved in visual learning

Blanke, M. L., & VanDongen, A. M. (2009). Activation Mechanisms of the NMDA Receptor. In A. M. VanDongen (Ed.), Biology of the NMDA Receptor (1 ed.). Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK5274/

Britannica.com. (2014, January 24). Wernicke area. Retrieved February 4, 2017, from https://www.britannica.com/science/Wernicke-area

Britannica.com. (2016, August 31). Broca area. Retrieved February 4, 2017, from https://www.britannica.com/science/Broca-area

Carlson, N. R., & Birkett, M. A. (2017). Physiology of Behavior (12 ed.). Boston, MA: Pearson Education.

Christian, N. (2017, January 21). Amnesia: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatments. Retrieved February 3, 2017, from http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/9673.php