The locus of the posterior subdivision of the inferotemporal visual learning area in the monkey

Abstract

In an attempt to define the posterior subdivision of the inferotemporal visual learning area more precisely than before, pattern discrimination retention, serial object discrimination learning and concurrent object discrimination learning were tested in 16 monkeys with lesions in one of four different cytoarchitectural areas; TEO, OA, OB and OC, and in five unoperated monkeys. Marked impairment was found only in pattern discrimination retention and only in the monkeys with lesions of area TEO. It was concluded that the posterior limit of the inferotemporal visual learning area is at the ascending limb of the inferior occipital sulcus, and that the posterior subdivision thus comprises the single anatomical area TEO and does not extend into areas OA and OB.