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- Glossary
Viewpoint invariance
This term refers to a phenomenal ability of our brain: it is able to recognize the same object over and over again – no matter from which angle we view it and largely regardless of how much the object has changed in the meantime.
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- Glossary
Visual cortex
The visual cortex refers to the areas of the occipital lobe that are involved in processing visual information. These include the primary visual cortex and the associative visual cortices V1 to V5. According to Brodmann, the visual cortex comprises areas 17, 18, and 19.
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- Glossary
Visual system
The visual system is the part of the nervous system that processes visual information. It primarily comprises the eye, the optic nerve, the optic chiasm, the optic tract, the lateral geniculate nucleus, the optic radiation, the primary visual cortex, and the visual association cortices.
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- Glossary
Volition
This psychological term describes the cognitive process in which an individual decides on an action and carries it out. In simple terms, volition can also be described as an act of will or the will to initiate action.
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- Glossary
Perception
The term describes the complex process of gathering and processing information from stimuli in the environment and from the internal states of a living being. The brain combines the information, which is perceived partly consciously and partly unconsciously, into a subjectively meaningful overall impression. If the data it receives from the sensory organs is insufficient for this, it supplements it with empirical values. This can lead to misinterpretations and explains why we succumb to optical illusions or fall for magic tricks.
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- Glossary
Ventral pathway
The part of the visual processing pathway that deals with size, shape, color, and ultimately object recognition. The what pathway runs from V1 and V2 to the areas of the temporal lobe.
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- Glossary
White matter
The white matter refers to the myelinated fibers of the nervous system that connect one neuron to another. The white color is caused by the myelin sheath surrounding the fibers.
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- Glossary
Williams-Beuren syndrome
Williams-Beuren syndrome is a rare developmental disorder that is genetically determined. Those affected are missing 26-28 genes on chromosome 7. One of these genes is crucial for the development of connective tissue, which is why it cannot form properly in people with Williams-Beuren syndrome. Other characteristics include prominent cheekbones, a bulbous nose, and usually mild to moderate cognitive impairment, while language skills and social interaction are often relatively well developed.
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- Glossary
Dorsal pathway
The dorsal visual processing pathway is the part of visual information processing that is responsible for the spatial localization of objects and the perception of movement. It transmits visual information from the primary visual cortex (V1) and secondary visual areas (V2, V3) to the parietal lobes, where spatial orientation, motion analysis, and action planning take place.
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- Glossary
Cones
The cones are a type of photoreceptor in the retina. The three different types of cones – S, M, and L – are each stimulated by short, medium, and long wavelengths of visible light, enabling color vision. They are highly concentrated in the fovea and enable sharp vision.
