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Cited by 1,597Visual perception and processing mechanismsFace Recognition and PerceptionMotor Control and Adaptation

How parallel are the primate visual pathways?

Merigan, W H, Maunsell, J H R·1993·Annual Review of Neuroscience
DOI 10.1146/annurev.ne.16.030193.002101
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Abstract

The visual system, like all sensory systems, contains parallel pathways (see Stone 1 983). Recently, m uch emphasis has been placed on the relationship between two subcortical and two cortical pathways. It has been suggested that the cortical and subcortical pathways are continuous, so that distinct channels of information that arise in the retina remain segregated up to the highest levels of visual cortex. According to this view, the visual system comprises two largely independent subsystems that mediate different classes of visual behaviors. In this paper, we evaluate this proposal, which has far-reaching implications for our understanding of the functional organization of the visual system. The subcortical projection from the retina to cerebral cortex is strongly dominated by the two pathways (M and P pathways) that are relayed by the magnocellular and parvocellular subdivisions of the lateral geniculate nucleus (LGN) (see Shapley & Perry 1 986). The importance of these pathways is demonstrated by the fact that they include about 90% of the axons that leave the retinas (Silveira & Perry 1 99 1 ) and that little vision survives when both pathways are destroyed (Schiller et al 1 990a). The P and M pathways maintain their sharp anatomical segregation through the termination of the LGN projection in layer 4C of VI (striate cortex). The complex network of connections in primate extrastriate visual cor-

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Crossref · 10.1146/annurev.ne.16.030193.002101

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  • The P system conducts high-resolution visual information to cortex.

    “The P system originates with LGN neurons with smaller cell bodies and, in contrast, conducts high-resolution visual information to cortex and is involved in processing of fine-grained stimulus details and object identification (2,6).”

    From Visual perception and its impairment in schizophrenia (2008) · cites this paper as [2]

  • The M system conducts low-resolution visual information rapidly to cortex.

    “The M system is driven by neurons in the LGN with large cell bodies and, in general, conducts low-resolution visual information rapidly to cortex and is involved in initial attentional capture (typically by stimulus onset/offset and/or movement) and processing of overall stimulus organization (2–5).”

    From Visual perception and its impairment in schizophrenia (2008) · cites this paper as [2]

  • The M system is involved in processing of overall stimulus organization.

    “The M system is driven by neurons in the LGN with large cell bodies and, in general, conducts low-resolution visual information rapidly to cortex and is involved in initial attentional capture (typically by stimulus onset/offset and/or movement) and processing of overall stimulus organization (2–5).”

    From Visual perception and its impairment in schizophrenia (2008) · cites this paper as [2]

  • The P system is involved in processing of fine-grained stimulus details and object identification.

    “The P system originates with LGN neurons with smaller cell bodies and, in contrast, conducts high-resolution visual information to cortex and is involved in processing of fine-grained stimulus details and object identification (2,6).”

    From Visual perception and its impairment in schizophrenia (2008) · cites this paper as [2]

  • The M system is involved in initial attentional capture.

    “The M system is driven by neurons in the LGN with large cell bodies and, in general, conducts low-resolution visual information rapidly to cortex and is involved in initial attentional capture (typically by stimulus onset/offset and/or movement) and processing of overall stimulus organization (2–5).”

    From Visual perception and its impairment in schizophrenia (2008) · cites this paper as [2]

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Authors
Merigan, W. H., & Maunsell, J. H. R.
Affiliations
University of Rochester (US)
ORCID
Venue
Annual Review of Neuroscience
Publisher
Annual Reviews
Published
1993-03
Volume
16
Issue
1
Pages
369-402
ISSN
  • 0147-006X (ISSN-L)
  • 1545-4126
DOI
10.1146/annurev.ne.16.030193.002101
OpenAlex
W2097462803
Cited by
1,597
References
152
Citations by year
2026: 38 · 2025: 27 · 2024: 27 · 2023: 17 · 2022: 29 · 2021: 69 · 2020: 33 · 2019: 30 · 2018: 29 · 2017: 38 · 2016: 45 · 2015: 53 · 2014: 50 · 2013: 54 · 2012: 47
FWCI
36.13
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Locations
  • Annual Review of Neuroscience (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Funders
  • National Institutes of Health (5r01ey008898-10)
  • National Eye Institute (EY01319, EY05911, EY 08898, R01EY005911, P30EY001319)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Visual perception and processing mechanisms
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Face Recognition and Perception
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Motor Control and Adaptation
Keywords
parallel visual pathways, primate visual system, magnocellular pathway, parvocellular pathway, lateral geniculate nucleus, primary visual cortex, extrastriate cortex, functional segregation, retinal projections, visual cortex organization
MeSH terms
Animals, Macaca, Models, Neurological, Parietal Lobe, Primates, Temporal Lobe, Visual Cortex, Visual Pathways

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