Visuospatial processing in early brain-based visual impairment is associated with differential recruitment of dorsal and ventral visual streams
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Visuospatial processing impairments are prevalent in individuals with cerebral visual impairment (CVI) and are typically ascribed to "dorsal stream dysfunction" (DSD). However, the contribution of other cortical regions, including early visual cortex (EVC), frontal cortex, or the ventral visual stream, to such impairments remains unknown. Thus, here, we examined fMRI activity in these regions, while individuals with CVI (and neurotypicals) performed a visual search task within a dynamic naturalistic scene. First, behavioral performance was measured with eye tracking. Participants were instructed to search and follow a walking human target. CVI participants took significantly longer to find the target, and their eye gaze patterns were less accurate and less precise. Second, we used the same task in the MRI scanner. Along the dorsal stream, activation was reduced in CVI participants, consistent with the proposed DSD in CVI. Intriguingly, however, visual areas along the ventral stream showed the complete opposite pattern, with greater activation in CVI participants. In contrast, we found no differences in either EVC or frontal cortex between groups. These results suggest that the impaired visuospatial processing abilities in CVI are associated with differential recruitment of the dorsal and ventral visual streams, likely resulting from impaired selective attention.
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During visual search tasks, there is a compensatory increase in ventral pathway activation.
“Research on cerebral visual impairment remains limited, though one study found that during visual search tasks, activation in the dorsal pathway is significantly reduced, with a compensatory increase in ventral pathway activation.[17]”
From Brain Rewires to Stabilize Walking During Visual Impairment · cites this paper as [17]
The fMRI activation section reports significantly higher ventral-stream activation and lower dorsal-stream activation in participants with CVI than in neurotypical controls during visual search. The Discussion considers compensation as one possible explanation but says the authors favor impaired top-down suppression instead. The increase is supported; calling it compensatory presents an uncertain, disfavored interpretation as a finding. (LLM, conf=0.90)
Experimental — accuracy not yet measuredDuring visual search tasks, activation in the dorsal pathway is significantly reduced.
“Research on cerebral visual impairment remains limited, though one study found that during visual search tasks, activation in the dorsal pathway is significantly reduced, with a compensatory increase in ventral pathway activation.[17]”
From Brain Rewires to Stabilize Walking During Visual Impairment · cites this paper as [17]
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Research works printed but not linked: 1
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(n.d.) · Chinese Medical Journal / Neuroscience News · doi:10.1097/cm9.0000000000004040
“[17] While these findings collectively suggest that the brain compensates for motor control deficits by modulating FC within or between networks, the specific cortical hubs involved in these adjustments are not well characterized.”
- Authors
- Pamir, Z., Manley, C. E., Bauer, C. M., Bex, P. J., Dilks, D. D., & Merabet, L. B.
- Affiliations
- Bilkent University (TR)
- Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary (US)
- Harvard University (US)
- Northeastern University (US)
- Emory University (US)
- Corresponding author
- Merabet, Lotfi B
- Venue
- Cerebral Cortex
- Publisher
- Oxford University Press (OUP)
- Published
- 2024-05
- Volume
- 34
- Issue
- 5
- ISSN
- 1047-3211 (ISSN-L)
- 1460-2199
- PMC
- PMC11484488
- OpenAlex
- W4399024037
- Cited by
- 11
- References
- 39
- Citations by year
- 2026: 5 · 2025: 6
- FWCI
- 2.67
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- bronze
- doi.org
- Locations
- Cerebral Cortex (publishedVersion)
- PubMed Central (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Bilkent University Institutional Repository (Bilkent University) (submittedVersion, cc-by)
- Funders
- National Institute of Health (R01 EY030973)
- National Eye Institute (R01 EY030973)
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Visual perception and processing mechanisms
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Spatial Neglect and Hemispheric Dysfunction
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Face Recognition and Perception
- Keywords
- cerebral visual impairment, visuospatial processing, ventral stream, early visual cortex, frontal cortex, visual search, naturalistic scenes, gaze patterns, selective attention
- MeSH terms
- Adult, Brain Mapping, Female, Humans, Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Male, Middle Aged, Photic Stimulation, Space Perception, Vision Disorders, Visual Cortex, Visual Pathways, Visual Perception, Young Adult
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