Definition

1. Noun:
   • The part of the cerebral cortex that processes visual information: The visual cortex is the region of the brain's outer layer (cortex) that receives and interprets neural signals related to sight from the thalamus.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • Damage to the primary visual cortex can result in blindness.
  • The study focused on how the visual cortex develops in infants.
  • Neurons in the visual cortex respond to specific shapes and movements.

Advanced Usage

• "Activation of the visual cortex": Refers to the measurable neural activity in this brain region when processing visual stimuli.

  • The fMRI scan showed strong activation of the visual cortex when the subject viewed the images.

• "Visual cortex mapping": The scientific process of determining the specific functional areas within the visual cortex.

  • Researchers use advanced techniques for visual cortex mapping.

Variants and Related Words

• Visual area (n): Another term for a region of the visual cortex.

  • Brodmann area 17 is a primary visual area.

• Striate cortex (n): A specific name for the primary visual cortex, referring to its striped appearance.

  • The striate cortex is essential for basic visual perception.

Synonyms

• Visual area: A general term for a cortical region dedicated to vision.
• Occipital cortex: Refers broadly to the occipital lobe, which contains the visual cortex.

Related Terms and Phrases

• Cortical blindness: A condition resulting from damage to the visual cortex.

  • Despite healthy eyes, the patient experienced cortical blindness after the stroke.

• Visual processing: The broader function performed by the visual cortex and connected pathways.

  • Visual processing involves both the eyes and the visual cortex.

Noun

1. the cortical area that receives information from the lateral geniculate body of the thalamus