Visual

Visual perception is the ability to interpret the surrounding environment using light in the visible spectrum reflected by the objects in the environment. This is different from visual acuity, which refers to how clearly a person sees (for example "20/20 vision"). A person can have problems with visual perceptual processing even if he/she has 20/20 vision.

The Process of Visual Perception

The process of visual perception begins when the lens of the eye focuses an image of its surroundings onto a light-sensitive membrane in the back of the eye, called the retina. The retina is actually part of the brain that is isolated to serve as a transducer for the conversion of patterns of light into neuronal signals. The lens of the eye focuses light on the photoreceptive cells of the retina, which detect the photons of light and respond by producing neural impulses. These signals are processed in a hierarchical fashion by different parts of the brain, from the retina upstream to central ganglia in the brain.

Theories of Visual Perception

There are several theories of visual perception including the Gestalt theory, Marr's Computational Theory, and Biederman's Recognition-by-components theory. These theories propose different ideas on how our brain processes visual information, and how we come to perceive our environment.

Disorders of Visual Perception

There are many disorders of visual perception, including Prosopagnosia, Akinetopsia, and Visual Agnosia. These disorders can have a variety of causes, such as brain damage, and can often be treated with therapy or medication.

See Also

• Visual system
• Visual cortex
• Visual field
• Visual acuity

References

Visual Resources
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