Question

If our visual perception depends only on the feature detectors in the visual cortex, what would we see?

Answer 1

Our visual perception depends on the feature detectors in the visual cortex, but it is not the only factor that influences what we see. Other factors such as neural plasticity, past experiences, attention, and expectations also contribute to our perception.

Step-by-step explanation:

Our visual perception depends on the feature detectors in the visual cortex, but it is not the only factor that influences what we see. The visual cortex is responsible for processing and interpreting visual information sent from the eyes, but our perception is also influenced by other factors such as our past experiences, attention, and expectations.

An example of how our perception can be influenced is the experiment with prism glasses. Initially, subjects wearing these glasses perceived the world as inverted, but over time, their visual cortex adapted, and they started perceiving the world correctly. This shows that our visual perception is not solely dependent on the feature detectors in the visual cortex, but also on neural plasticity and the brain's ability to adapt.

In conclusion, while the feature detectors in the visual cortex play a significant role in our visual perception, other factors such as neural plasticity, past experiences, attention, and expectations also contribute to what we perceive.

Answer 2

The sophistication of the visual cortex can be simplified through understanding that the neurons found in this region are distinguished by the kind of stimulus that each detects.

There are three major groups of feature detectors in visual cortex. These includes simple cells, complex cells and hypercomplex cells. The simple cells are the most specific since it responds to the geometric characteristics of the stimulus such as the lines of particular width, orientation, angle and position within the visual field. The complex cells are similar to simple cells. What differentiates one from the other is that they respond to the proper stimulus in any position within the receptive visual field. In addition, some of the complex cells respond to particular lines or edges moving in a specific direction opposite the receptive field. Lastly, the hypercomplex cells are responsive to the specific length of the lines. It is believed that the information from all feature detectors conjoin in to result in the visual stimulation perception.