Backwardness of human neuroanatomy
Article Abstract:
Innovative methods are needed if the study of human neuroanatomy is to advance beyond the rudimentary level. Knowledge of macaque monkeys' brains has advanced greatly, but most of the techniques used on monkeys cannot ethically be used on people. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and positron emission tomography in their existing forms are of limited usefulness for studying human brains. Revolutionary techniques are required to obtain human cortical maps comparable to what exists for the monkeys' brains. Enhancing MRI's sensitivity to lipids might be one such technique.
Publication Name: Nature
Subject: Zoology and wildlife conservation
ISSN: 0028-0836
Year: 1993
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Visual perception: rivalry and consciousness
Article Abstract:
A study using macaque monkeys to research the neural bases of binocular rivalry and visual consciousness reveals that some of the neurons correlate with the monkey's perceptions, while the majority is unaffected. Contrary to the general belief that rivalry happens at an early stage in visual processing, Leopold and Logothetis suggest that rivalry takes place at several levels in the visual pathway. Consciousness is a scientific problem, and it is essential to know the types of neurons involved, their unusual nature, and their role in visual awareness.
Publication Name: Nature
Subject: Zoology and wildlife conservation
ISSN: 0028-0836
Year: 1996
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Are we aware of neural activity in primary visual cortex?
Article Abstract:
Primates are not directly aware of the neural activity in area V1 of the primary visual cortex. Experiments on macaque monkey suggest that only some of the active neurons in a cortical area are likely to produce direct visual awareness. Neurons higher in the visual hierarchy are binocular as they do not make a distinction between the visual signals of the two eyes. This results in people being unaware of which eyes they are seeing an object. These facts support the hypotheses about limited awareness of the neural activity in V1.
Publication Name: Nature
Subject: Zoology and wildlife conservation
ISSN: 0028-0836
Year: 1995
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