Modularity and Visual pathways

• What are physiological modules specialized for?

  Processing information of a particular perceptual type
• Which lobe is primarily responsible for vision?

  Occipital lobe
• What type of stimuli do cells in the Inferotemporal cortex respond to?

  Different forms and complex stimuli
• What happens when there are lesions in the Middle Temporal (MT) area?

  Severe reduction in perception of movement
• What is the summary of physiologically defined modules?

  • Defined by the type of sensation processed
  • Can be specialized within larger modules
• What do retinal ganglion cells do?

  Take sensory information along the optic nerve
• What is a retinotopic map?

  A mapping where locations correspond to the retina
• How does cortical magnification relate to visual field eccentricity?

  More eccentric areas have smaller cortical areas
• What is the largest projection in visual pathways?

  To the visual cortex via the lateral geniculate nucleus
• What is blindsight?

  Responding accurately to visual stimuli without conscious experience
• Who argued that blindsight is explained by sub-cortical processing?

  Kentridge et al. (1997)
• What are the two types of visual pathways discussed?

  • Dorsal pathway: Vision for action
  • Ventral pathway: Vision for perception
• What does double dissociation demonstrate in visual processing?

  Two functions involve different independent mechanisms
• What condition did patient DF have?

  Visual form agnosia
• What abilities did DF retain despite her condition?

  Good acuity and color vision
• How did DF's actions differ from her perception abilities?

  She could perform actions but not recognize objects
• What is the effect of dorsal damage in optic ataxia patients?

  Deficient vision for action
• What is the summary of parallel processing in visual pathways?

  • Dorsal pathway: Vision for action
  • Ventral pathway: Vision for perception
  • Not entirely independent; some cross-talk exists
• What is a defining feature of cognitive modules according to Coltheart?

  Domain specific
• What does information encapsulation in modules imply?

  Modules only access required information
• What are the characteristics of modules according to Fodor?

  • Domain specific
  • Innately specified
  • Fast
  • Hardwired
  • Autonomous
• What is the main focus of cognitive science regarding modules?

  Hypothetical and functionally defined
• What is the significance of domain specificity in modules?

  • Modules respond to specific stimulus classes
  • Critical for defining modular systems
• What is the summary of the modularity of mind according to Fodor?

  • Modules are functionally defined
  • Can be domain specific and fast
  • Important for cognitive processing theories
• What is the main takeaway regarding visual pathways?

  Multiple pathways process visual information differently