Characterization of human visual areas at the parieto-occipital region

R. Hari, L. Stenbacka and S. Vanni

Earlier functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) and magnetoencephalographic (MEG) data has indicated that human parieto-occipital (PO) region is sensitive to luminance stimuli, eye-blinks and saccades. In addition, it becomes active very early, coincidently with the primary visual cortex. In monkeys, the PO region houses the V6 complex, an important connection between dorsal visual and more rostral parietal and frontal sensorimotor areas. We aim to localize the luminance-sensitive area in the human PO region, and characterize its sensitivity to saccades and blinks in darkness with fMRI. In addition, we want to compare the sensitivity of this area to known parameters activating monkey V6 complex. Location and cortical orientation obtained from fMRI analysis could be further incorporated to a priori models of MEG source analysis when studying early visual processing dynamics.

BRAIN publications from earlier activity

Vanni, S., Dojat, M., Warnking, J., Segebarth, C., and Bullier, J., Exploring the timing of human visual processing, Time and Mind: Information processing perspectives(2003), pp 125-139.

Bräutigam, S. and Swithenby, S.J., Endogenous context for visual processing of human faces, NeuroReport (2003), 14, 10, pp 1385-1389.