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Neurobiology

Turning a corner in vision research

Nature volume 399, pages 641–643 (1999)Cite this article

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The first step in processing of visual signals is carried out by a region of the brain known as the primary visual cortex. Although this region is not as highly specialized as some of the areas that mediate subsequent stages of processing, many basic properties of image analysis are generated here. For example, the primary visual cortex mediates orientation specificity — the preferential response of particular neurons to lines orientated in a narrow range of angles. Neurons that prefer the same orientation are close neighbours, forming vertical orientation columns that span the whole depth of the cortex. On page 655 of this issue, Das and Gilbert1 report that these columns are used to analyse angular visual features in the context of a scene at this early stage of processing.

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Figure 1: Map of preferred orientations across the surface of the primary visual cortex.
Figure 2: Orientation map across the primary visual cortex with superimposed inhibitory neuron.

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  1. Department of Neurophysiology Medical School, Ruhr University Bochum, 44780, Bochum , Germany

    Ulf Eysel

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  1. Ulf Eysel
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Eysel, U. Turning a corner in vision research. Nature 399, 641–643 (1999). https://doi.org/10.1038/21329

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