Summary

Lateral Occipital Complex (LOC) uses the periphery of an object to recognise it. This area is thus part of the visual circuitry.

Function

This area plays an important role in recognising objects. This brain area uses the shape of a whole object as the main element for recognising the object. A number of individual shapes that together can form a specific object is therefore not enough.

Location

This brain area is located in both hemispheres, in the occipital lobe.

Fact

The LOC can be divided into an anterior and a posterior part. The anterior part is called VOT (ventral occipitotemporal), and the posterior part LO (lateral occipital).

Patients

When this area is damaged, objects can no longer be recognised. We call this visual agnosia. A patient can sometimes still draw objects, or put two identical objects together. It is then difficult for the person to say which object it is or what the object is used for.

Author: Myrthe Princen (translated by Thomas von Rein)