Subcortical visual function in the newborn.
Early behavioral visual function in infants may not depend upon the geniculocalcarine pathway but may be mediated through more primitive subcortical pathways. This subcortical visual system may exist in early life and be responsible for visual pursuit and perhaps fixation. In some infants with damage to the visual cortex, the subcortical pathway may persist beyond the neonatal period. Three infants with major defects in the visual cortex are reported. These infants displayed persistent preservation of visual pursuit movements without evidence of visual recognition. Limited behavioral expressions of vision in the infant with damage to the visual cortex may not always be an indicator of preserved function of the visual cortex.
Snyder
R D
RD
Department of Neurology, University of New Mexico Medical Center, Albuquerque 87131.
Hata
S K
SK
Brann
B S
BS
Mills
R M
RM
D001921:Brain / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D011698:Pursuit, Smooth; D014793:Visual Cortex / Q000002:abnormalities; D014795:Visual Pathways / Q000503:physiopathology*; D014796:Visual Perception