, 2009) cortices. In the visual cortex of primates and carnivores, receptive fields at successive stages in the cortical hierarchy become progressively more specialized (Maunsell and Newsome, 1987 and Orban, 2008), and behavioral

data suggest that distinct extrastriate areas contribute to different visual abilities such as object recognition (Conway et al., 2010, Desimone et al., 1985 and Pasupathy and Connor, 1999) and motion perception (Born and Bradley, 2005 and Britten and Van Wezel, 2002). These data, together with a wealth of CP 673451 anatomical evidence (Felleman and Van Essen, 1991), have suggested the presence of distinct ventral and dorsal visual cortical pathways, referred to as “what” and “where” streams (Ungerleider and Mishkin, 1982)

or, in a somewhat different formulation, as “object recognition/action guidance” streams (Goodale and Milner, 1992 and Nassi and Callaway, 2009). Importantly, the dorsal stream may be classified into multiple subnetworks that are thought to be differentially involved in processing optic flow signals during navigation (including dorsolateral areas; Andersen et al., 1997, Britten and Van Wezel, 2002 and Duffy and Wurtz, 1991), or in rapid analysis of external object motion and form to guide motor planning (including dorsomedial areas; Galletti Veliparib and Fattori, 2003). Anatomical studies in rodent higher visual areas suggest a parallel organization similar to that in primates

and carnivores, although a precise correspondence between individual areas may not exist. Mouse visual areas AL and PM receive strong direct projections from V1 (Wang and Burkhalter, 2007). These areas also receive indirect input from superior colliculus and V1 via higher-order thalamic nuclei (mouse: Simmons and Pearlman, 1982; rat: Mannose-binding protein-associated serine protease Caviness and Frost, 1980 and Sanderson et al., 1991). Anatomically, area AL is reminiscent of dorsolateral stream areas in primates and carnivores, due to (1) its proximity and projections to anterior and lateral parietal areas, as well as its projections to motor cortex and medial entorhinal cortex (Wang et al., 2011), and (2) its associational inputs from adjacent somatosensory and auditory areas (Sanderson et al., 1991). Area PM, though less well understood, may have more in common with dorsomedial stream areas in higher mammals, due to its more medial location and its strong projections to anterior areas (Sanderson et al., 1991), as well as an absence of amygdalar inputs (compared to ventrotemporal areas; Wang and Burkhalter, 2011, Soc. Neurosci., abstract).