Medial superior temporal area: Difference between revisions

Latest revision as of 22:15, 11 December 2024

Medial Superior Temporal Area

TheMedial Superior Temporal Area (MST) is a region of the cerebral cortex located in the dorsal stream of the visual processing pathway. It is part of the extrastriate visual cortex and plays a crucial role in the perception of motion, particularly in the analysis of complex motion patterns such as optic flow, which is the pattern of apparent motion of objects, surfaces, and edges in a visual scene caused by the relative motion between an observer and the scene.

Anatomy and Location[edit]

The MST is situated in the superior temporal sulcus of the primate brain, adjacent to the middle temporal area (MT or V5). It is part of the dorsal stream, which is involved in processing spatial and motion information. The MST is divided into two subregions: MSTd (dorsal) and MSTl (lateral), each with distinct functional properties.

Function[edit]

The MST is primarily involved in the processing of visual motion. It receives input from the middle temporal area (MT), which is responsible for detecting basic motion signals. The MST further processes these signals to interpret more complex motion patterns, such as:

Optic Flow: MST neurons are sensitive to the global motion patterns that occur when an observer moves through an environment. This includes expansion, contraction, rotation, and translation of the visual field.
Heading Perception: The MST is involved in determining the direction of self-motion, which is crucial for navigation and balance.
Pursuit Eye Movements: MST neurons contribute to the control of smooth pursuit eye movements, allowing the eyes to smoothly follow moving objects.

Neural Mechanisms[edit]

Neurons in the MST are highly specialized for motion processing. They exhibit selectivity for different types of motion patterns and are capable of integrating motion information over large areas of the visual field. This integration is essential for interpreting complex motion cues and for the perception of three-dimensional motion.

Clinical Significance[edit]

Dysfunction in the MST can lead to deficits in motion perception, which can affect an individual's ability to navigate through their environment. Research into the MST and its connections with other brain areas is ongoing, with implications for understanding disorders such as motion blindness (akinetopsia) and vestibular disorders.

Research Techniques[edit]

The study of the MST involves various techniques, including:

Functional MRI (fMRI): Used to observe the activity of the MST in response to visual motion stimuli.
Electrophysiology: Recording the electrical activity of neurons in the MST to understand their response properties.
Lesion Studies: Examining the effects of damage to the MST on motion perception and behavior.

Also see[edit]

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-== Medial Superior Temporal Area ==
+Medial Superior Temporal Area
-The Medial Superior Temporal Area (MST) is a region of the brain located in the superior temporal gyrus, which is part of the cerebral cortex. It is primarily associated with visual processing and plays a crucial role in the perception of motion and the integration of visual information.
+The'''[[Medial Superior Temporal Area]]''' (MST) is a region of the cerebral cortex located in the dorsal stream of the visual processing pathway. It is part of the extrastriate visual cortex and plays a crucial role in the perception of motion, particularly in the analysis of complex motion patterns such as optic flow, which is the pattern of apparent motion of objects, surfaces, and edges in a visual scene caused by the relative motion between an observer and the scene.
-=== Anatomy ===
+==Anatomy and Location==
+The MST is situated in the [[superior temporal sulcus]] of the primate brain, adjacent to the [[middle temporal area]] (MT or V5). It is part of the [[dorsal stream]], which is involved in processing spatial and motion information. The MST is divided into two subregions: MSTd (dorsal) and MSTl (lateral), each with distinct functional properties.
-The MST is situated in the posterior part of the superior temporal gyrus, adjacent to the middle temporal area (MT). It is found in both hemispheres of the brain, with the left and right MSTs working together to process visual stimuli.
+==Function==
+The MST is primarily involved in the processing of visual motion. It receives input from the [[middle temporal area]] (MT), which is responsible for detecting basic motion signals. The MST further processes these signals to interpret more complex motion patterns, such as:
-The MST receives input from the primary visual cortex (V1) and the middle temporal area (MT), as well as other visual areas such as the lateral occipital complex (LOC) and the inferotemporal cortex (IT). It also receives feedback from higher-order association areas, including the parietal cortex.
+* '''[[Optic Flow]]''': MST neurons are sensitive to the global motion patterns that occur when an observer moves through an environment. This includes expansion, contraction, rotation, and translation of the visual field.
+* '''[[Heading Perception]]''': The MST is involved in determining the direction of self-motion, which is crucial for navigation and balance.
+* '''[[Pursuit Eye Movements]]''': MST neurons contribute to the control of smooth pursuit eye movements, allowing the eyes to smoothly follow moving objects.
-=== Function ===
+==Neural Mechanisms==
+Neurons in the MST are highly specialized for motion processing. They exhibit selectivity for different types of motion patterns and are capable of integrating motion information over large areas of the visual field. This integration is essential for interpreting complex motion cues and for the perception of three-dimensional motion.
-The primary function of the MST is the perception of motion. It is particularly sensitive to the direction and speed of visual stimuli, allowing us to perceive the movement of objects in our visual field. This ability is crucial for various tasks, such as tracking moving objects, navigating through the environment, and coordinating our own movements.
+==Clinical Significance==
+Dysfunction in the MST can lead to deficits in motion perception, which can affect an individual's ability to navigate through their environment. Research into the MST and its connections with other brain areas is ongoing, with implications for understanding disorders such as [[motion blindness]] (akinetopsia) and [[vestibular disorders]].
-The MST also plays a role in the integration of visual information. It receives inputs from different visual areas and combines them to form a coherent representation of the visual scene. This integration process helps us perceive complex visual patterns, such as the motion of multiple objects or the structure of a scene.
+==Research Techniques==
+The study of the MST involves various techniques, including:
-=== Neural Circuitry ===
+* '''[[Functional MRI (fMRI)]]''': Used to observe the activity of the MST in response to visual motion stimuli.
+* '''[[Electrophysiology]]''': Recording the electrical activity of neurons in the MST to understand their response properties.
+* '''[[Lesion Studies]]''': Examining the effects of damage to the MST on motion perception and behavior.
-The neural circuitry of the MST involves both feedforward and feedback connections. Feedforward connections from the primary visual cortex (V1) and the middle temporal area (MT) provide the MST with visual input related to motion processing. These inputs are then processed by the MST neurons, which are tuned to specific directions and speeds of motion.
+==Also see==
+* [[Middle temporal area]]
+* [[Dorsal stream]]
+* [[Optic flow]]
+* [[Visual cortex]]
+* [[Motion perception]]
-Feedback connections from higher-order association areas, such as the parietal cortex, modulate the activity of MST neurons and contribute to the integration of visual information. These feedback connections help to refine the representation of motion and enhance the perception of complex visual patterns.
+{{Visual system}}
+{{Neuroscience}}
-=== Clinical Implications ===
+[[Category:Neuroscience]]
+[[Category:Visual system]]
-Damage to the MST can result in deficits in motion perception and visual integration. Patients with lesions in this area may experience difficulties in perceiving the direction and speed of moving objects, as well as problems in recognizing complex visual patterns.
+[[Category:Neuroanatomy]]
-Studying the MST and its functions can provide valuable insights into various neurological disorders, such as motion blindness (akinetopsia) and visual agnosia. Understanding the neural mechanisms underlying these conditions can help in the development of targeted therapies and rehabilitation strategies.
-=== Conclusion ===
-The Medial Superior Temporal Area (MST) is a critical region of the brain involved in the perception of motion and the integration of visual information. Its anatomical connections and neural circuitry allow for the processing of visual stimuli related to motion, enabling us to perceive and interact with the dynamic world around us.
-Further research on the MST and its functions will continue to deepen our understanding of visual processing and contribute to advancements in the field of neuroscience.<br>{{stub}}
-{{dictionary-stub1}}