Two visual systems re-viewed.pdfVIP

Neuropsychologia 46 (2008) 774–785 Two visual systems re-viewed A.D. Milner a,?, M.A. Goodale b a Cognitive Neuroscience Research Unit, Wolfson Research Institute, Durham University, Queen’s Campus, University Boulevard, Stockton on Tees TS17 6BH, UK b CIHR Group on Action and Perception, University of Western Ontario, Canada Received 16 February 2007; received in revised form 15 August 2007; accepted 11 October 2007 Available online 18 October 2007 Abstract The model proposed by the authors of two cortical systems providing ‘vision for action’ and ‘vision for perception’, respectively, owed much to the inspiration of Larry Weiskrantz. In the present article some essential concepts inherent in the model are summarized, and certain clari?cations and re?nements are offered. Some illustrations are given of recent experiments by ourselves and others that have prompted us to sharpen these concepts. Our explicit hope in writing our book in 1995 was to provide a theoretical framework that would stimulate research in the ?eld. Conversely, well-designed empirical contributions conceived within the framework of the model are the only way for us to progress along the route towards a fully ?eshed-out speci?cation of its workings. ? 2007 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. Keywords: Vision; Perception; Visuomotor control; Cortex; Dorsal stream; Ventral stream 1. Introduction In 1992, we proposed a model of cortical visual processing that made a distinction between vision for perception and vision for action (Goodale Milner, 1992, 2004; Milner Goodale, 1993, 1995, 2006). This model was in some ways the culmination of 20 years of scienti?c collaboration between the two of us. In fact, in 1973 – just a year before Larry Weiskrantz coined the word ‘blindsight’ – we were lucky enough to be awarded our ?rst research grant by the then Science Research Council (UK). As a condition for receiving the money, we were required to make the journey from St. Andrews to Oxford to talk to Larry,