[Visual cortical areas: topography, connections and function]

Abstract

The results of the electrophysiological mapping studies in the visual cortex are reviewed, with a special emphasis on the work of Allman and Kaas in the owl monkey. An analysis is given of the topography of the visual field representation within the different visual areas thus defined and comparative elements are given from studies in the visual cortex of cat and macaque monkey. It is shown that the interconnexions between the different cortical visual areas are numerous, especially between adjacent areas. The question of the functional localization in the various areas is discussed. It is proposed that certain aspects of the visual scene are analyzed by a group of interconnected neighbouring areas, whereas the analysis of other aspects involve interconnections between cortical areas which are distributed on the cortical surface.