Mapping the representation of the visual field by electrical stimulation of human visual cortex. 1979

W H Dobelle, and J Turkel, and D C Henderson, and J R Evans

Electrical stimulation of human visual cortex produces punctuate phosphenes in the visual field. This phenomenon, which is being explored as the basis for a visual prosthesis for the blind, also provides the first electrophysiological information about the retinocortical map in man. Stimulation of points clustered on the surface of the visual cortex produces phosphenes clustered in visual space. However, adjacent surface electrodes located on opposite sides of a sulcus can produce widely separated phosphenes, because the intervening cortex is buried and inaccessible to stimulation. Such electrodes can also produce multiple phosphenes by simultaneously stimulating both banks of the sulcus. Electrodes which are widely spaced on the brain can produce phosphenes close together in visual space providing they stimulate cortex corresponding to overlapping maps in areas 17 and 18. Analysis of the phosphene map indicates that successive stimulation of points further from the tip of the occipital pole produces phosphenes progressively more distant from the fixation point. Successive stimulation of points along the orthogonal dorsoventral dimension produces a progressive change in phosphene bearing. These results confirm the general view of cortical organization derived from field defect studies in man, and from anatomical and electrophysiological studies in monkeys, and provide a new tool for more detailed study of retinotopic projections in man.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D008297 Male Males
D010719 Phosphenes A subjective visual sensation with the eyes closed and in the absence of light. Phosphenes can be spontaneous, or induced by chemical, electrical, or mechanical (pressure) stimuli which cause the visual field to light up without optical inputs. Phosphene
D001766 Blindness The inability to see or the loss or absence of perception of visual stimuli. This condition may be the result of EYE DISEASES; OPTIC NERVE DISEASES; OPTIC CHIASM diseases; or BRAIN DISEASES affecting the VISUAL PATHWAYS or OCCIPITAL LOBE. Amaurosis,Bilateral Blindness,Blindness, Bilateral,Blindness, Legal,Blindness, Monocular,Blindness, Unilateral,Sudden Visual Loss,Unilateral Blindness,Blindness, Acquired,Blindness, Complete,Blindness, Hysterical,Blindness, Transient,Acquired Blindness,Amauroses,Bilateral Blindnesses,Complete Blindness,Hysterical Blindness,Legal Blindness,Monocular Blindness,Sudden Visual Losses,Transient Blindness,Visual Loss, Sudden
D004558 Electric Stimulation Use of electric potential or currents to elicit biological responses. Stimulation, Electric,Electrical Stimulation,Electric Stimulations,Electrical Stimulations,Stimulation, Electrical,Stimulations, Electric,Stimulations, Electrical
D004567 Electrodes, Implanted Surgically placed electric conductors through which ELECTRIC STIMULATION is delivered to or electrical activity is recorded from a specific point inside the body. Implantable Electrodes,Implantable Stimulation Electrodes,Implanted Electrodes,Implanted Stimulation Electrodes,Electrode, Implantable,Electrode, Implantable Stimulation,Electrode, Implanted,Electrode, Implanted Stimulation,Electrodes, Implantable,Electrodes, Implantable Stimulation,Electrodes, Implanted Stimulation,Implantable Electrode,Implantable Stimulation Electrode,Implanted Electrode,Implanted Stimulation Electrode,Stimulation Electrode, Implantable,Stimulation Electrode, Implanted,Stimulation Electrodes, Implantable,Stimulation Electrodes, Implanted
D004594 Electrophysiology The study of the generation and behavior of electrical charges in living organisms particularly the nervous system and the effects of electricity on living organisms.
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000328 Adult A person having attained full growth or maturity. Adults are of 19 through 44 years of age. For a person between 19 and 24 years of age, YOUNG ADULT is available. Adults
D014793 Visual Cortex Area of the OCCIPITAL LOBE concerned with the processing of visual information relayed via VISUAL PATHWAYS. Area V2,Area V3,Area V4,Area V5,Associative Visual Cortex,Brodmann Area 18,Brodmann Area 19,Brodmann's Area 18,Brodmann's Area 19,Cortical Area V2,Cortical Area V3,Cortical Area V4,Cortical Area V5,Secondary Visual Cortex,Visual Cortex Secondary,Visual Cortex V2,Visual Cortex V3,Visual Cortex V3, V4, V5,Visual Cortex V4,Visual Cortex V5,Visual Cortex, Associative,Visual Motion Area,Extrastriate Cortex,Area 18, Brodmann,Area 18, Brodmann's,Area 19, Brodmann,Area 19, Brodmann's,Area V2, Cortical,Area V3, Cortical,Area V4, Cortical,Area V5, Cortical,Area, Visual Motion,Associative Visual Cortices,Brodmanns Area 18,Brodmanns Area 19,Cortex Secondary, Visual,Cortex V2, Visual,Cortex V3, Visual,Cortex, Associative Visual,Cortex, Extrastriate,Cortex, Secondary Visual,Cortex, Visual,Cortical Area V3s,Extrastriate Cortices,Secondary Visual Cortices,V3, Cortical Area,V3, Visual Cortex,V4, Area,V4, Cortical Area,V5, Area,V5, Cortical Area,V5, Visual Cortex,Visual Cortex Secondaries,Visual Cortex, Secondary,Visual Motion Areas
D014794 Visual Fields The total area or space visible in a person's peripheral vision with the eye looking straightforward. Field, Visual,Fields, Visual,Visual Field

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