Direct geniculo-extrastriate pathways: a review of the literature

• Published in: Surgical and Radiologic Anatomy Vol. 37; no. 8; pp. 891 - 899
• Main Authors: Abed Rabbo, Francis, Koch, Guillaume, Lefèvre, Christian, Seizeur, Romuald
• Format: Journal Article Book Review
• Language: English
• Published: Paris Springer Paris 01.10.2015; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Anatomy; Animals; Geniculate Bodies - anatomy & histology; Geniculate Bodies - physiology; Humans; Imaging; Information processing; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; NMR; Nuclear magnetic resonance; Orthopedics; Radiology; Review; Surgery; Visual Cortex - anatomy & histology; Visual Cortex - physiology; Visual Perception - physiology; Visual task performance; Stereoscopic/3D visual areas; Pathways; White matter fiber tracts; Visual cortical areas; Visual field; Lateral geniculate nucleus; Anatomy and connections
• ISSN: 0930-1038; 1279-8517
• DOI: 10.1007/s00276-015-1450-7

Purpose The aim of this paper is to review the literature on direct geniculo-extrastriate pathways with special attention to 3D extrastriate visual areas. Methods A literature review was realized using PubMed and Google Scholar. “Lateral geniculate nucleus”, “geniculo-extrastriate pathways” and “white matter fiber tracts” were among the keywords used. Results Existence of geniculo-extrastriate connections was first hypothesized by the clinical observations of Riddoch’s syndrome in patients with striate cortex (primary visual area, V1) lesions. Robust histological proof of geniculo-extrastriate pathways exists in monkeys. In humans, these pathways were tested through functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), electro- and magneto-physiological paradigms. Conversely, only indirect proof of the connection between lateral geniculate nucleus and V5 exists. To our knowledge there were not any anatomical studies of geniculo-extrastriate connections in humans. Conclusion Few human studies take interest in geniculo-extrastriate pathways. Only indirect proof of geniculo-extrastriate pathways exists in humans.