Superior performance for visually guided pointing in the lower visual field

The superior hemiretina in primates and humans has a greater density of ganglion cells than the inferior hemiretina, suggesting a bias towards processing information in the lower visual field (loVF). In primates, this over-representation of the loVF is also evident at the level of striate and extras...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Experimental brain research 2001-04, Vol.137 (3-4), p.303-308
Main Authors: DANCKERT, James, GOODALE, Melvyn A
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adult
Algorithms
Biological and medical sciences
Female
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
Ganglion cells
Humans
Information processing
Male
Motion Perception
Motor control and motor pathways. Reflexes. Control centers of vegetative functions. Vestibular system and equilibration
Motor skill
Photic Stimulation
Primates
Psychomotor Performance - physiology
Retinal Ganglion Cells - physiology
sensorimotor integration
Space Perception - physiology
Vertebrates: nervous system and sense organs
Visual field
Visual Fields - physiology
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Summary:The superior hemiretina in primates and humans has a greater density of ganglion cells than the inferior hemiretina, suggesting a bias towards processing information in the lower visual field (loVF). In primates, this over-representation of the loVF is also evident at the level of striate and extrastriate cortex. This is particularly true in some of the visual areas constituting the dorsal "action" pathway, such as area V6A. Here we show that visually guided pointing movements with the hand are both faster and more accurate when performed in the loVF when compared to the same movements made in the upper visual field (upVF). This was true despite the fact that the biomechanics of the movements made did not differ across conditions. The loVF advantage for the control of visually guided pointing movements is unlikely to be due to retinal factors and may instead reflect a functional bias for controlling skilled movements in this region of space. Possible neural correlates for this loVF advantage for visually guided pointing are discussed.
ISSN:0014-4819
1432-1106
DOI:10.1007/s002210000653