COGSCI 200 Lecture Notes - Lecture 3: Lateral Geniculate Nucleus, Occipital Lobe, Visual Cortex
Document Summary
We live in a constructed perceptual reality. We perceive our brain"s explanations of sensory input. Reverse optics - determining 3d scene given 2d pattern of light - what we commonly do. Each pattern of sensory of input corresponds to many possible external physical realities. Ex. our eyes take in sensory input & figure out what it is. Forward optics - determining the 2d pattern of light that will fall on a set of photo receptors (such as camera) given a 3d scene. Pixar trying to animate the ocean in nemo. Perception is a collection of multiple processes. Does not indicate that specialized functions are genetically pre-wired in specific locations of the brain. Ex. digit vs. letter recognition (not genetically inherited, we have to learn) Retina (2d) > lateral geniculate nucleus of thalamus > projects to first cortical area in occipital lobe. Who? - inferotemporal cortex - facial recognition, etc. How? - parietal cortex - movement, action, etc.
