Visual+System

=**Visual System**=


 * 1. Recognize the retinal layers and name the main classes of neurons in the retina that are in each layer.**


 * 2. Explain the basics of how visual transduction occurs and how signal amplification results from the biochemical cascade following absorption of photons by visial pigments.**


 * 3. Define the differences in the anatomical organization of peripheral and central retina and explain how these relate to the receptive field properties of the neurons in these regions and correspond to the "alerting" and "analysis" functions of the cells.**


 * 4. Describe the differences between the properties and central projections of the P (beta) and M (alpha) systems.**


 * 5. Characterize how the visual field is represented (i.e., the visuotopic map) in visual pathways and structures from the optic nerve to primary visual cortex.**


 * 6. Relate visual field deficits ("scotomas") to sites of damage of visual pathways or nuclei.**


 * 7. Give examples of h ow cortical processing "streams" distil information regarding perceptions of color, shape, and motion of visual images.**


 * 8. Describe the concepts of binocularity and ocular dominance as they apply to neurons in visual cortex. Identify the cortical areas and layers where information from both eyes is kept separate and where it is combined.**


 * 9. Describe how binocular receptive fields are formed in primary visual cortex.**


 * 10. Explain how binocular vision gives rise to distance perception via disparity coding by binocular cortical neurons.**


 * 11. Describe the development of ocular dominance columns and relate consequences for brain development of ocular misalignment and treatment options for strabismus in infants.**


 * 12. Predict sites of visual pathway damage from patterns of vision loss (scotomas).**


 * 13. For each of the following eye movements, describe the sensory input required, movement characteristics, and contributions of cortical and subcortical control centers:**

__Vestibulo-ocular Response (VOR)__

__Optokinetic Nystagmus (OKN)__

__Saccades__

__Visual Pursuit__