title: A new neural framework for visuospatial processing.
abstract: The division of cortical visual processing into distinct dorsal and ventral streams is a key framework that has guided visual neuroscience. The characterization of the ventral stream as a 'What' pathway is relatively uncontroversial, but the nature of dorsal stream processing is less clear. Originally proposed as mediating spatial perception ('Where'), more recent accounts suggest it primarily serves non-conscious visually guided action ('How'). Here, we identify three pathways emerging from the dorsal stream that consist of projections to the prefrontal and premotor cortices, and a major projection to the medial temporal lobe that courses both directly and indirectly through the posterior cingulate and retrosplenial cortices. These three pathways support both conscious and non-conscious visuospatial processing, including spatial working memory, visually guided action and navigation, respectively.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Brain and Cognition, National Institute of Mental Health, Bethesda, Maryland 20892, USA. kravitzd@mail.nih.gov
authors.forename: Dwight J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Kravitz
authors.forename: Kadharbatcha S
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Saleem
authors.forename: Chris I
authors.initials: CI
authors.lastname: Baker
authors.forename: Mortimer
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mishkin
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001288:Attention / Q000502:physiology; D001931:Brain Mapping; D003243:Consciousness / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D013028:Space Perception / Q000502:physiology*; D014793:Visual Cortex / Q000502:physiology*; D014795:Visual Pathways / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000502:physiology*