Illustration of log-polar mapping

The primary visual cortex (V1) has a retinotopic map of the visual field, i.e. activation of receptors at nearby positions on the retina in turn activate neurons at nearby positions in V1. The mapping is approximatately log-polar. If you fixate on a red dot and view the upper (or lower) moving pattern on the left, your primary visual cortex will produce a wave of neural activity moving from posterior towards anterior portions of your occipital lobe. This is illustrated on the upper right (or lower right). The red dot indexes the foveal locations.

Retinal stimulation and corresponding spatial pattern of V1 activity

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Last update: March 3, 2022