Occipital lobe

Definition

The occipital lobe is the visual processing center of the brain, located at the back of the head. It interprets information from the eyes and processes visual stimuli.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. The occipital lobe is primarily responsible for visual perception.
2. Damage to the occipital lobe can result in visual impairments such as blindness or visual field cuts.
3. It contains the primary visual cortex, also known as V1.
4. The occipital lobe works with other parts of the brain to interpret shapes, colors, and motion.
5. Visual information received by the retina is relayed to the occipital lobe via the optic nerve.

Review Questions

• What primary function does the occipital lobe serve?
• What might be a consequence of damage to the occipital lobe?
• Where in the brain is the primary visual cortex located?

Related terms

Parietal Lobe: A region of the brain involved in processing sensory information such as touch, temperature, and pain.

Temporal Lobe: A region of the brain that manages auditory information and is involved in memory formation.

Optic Nerve: The nerve that transmits visual information from the retina to the brain.