When someone sees a ball rolling down the street, the what pathway identifies the object, while the where/how pathway identifies where it is or how it is moving through space.

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Visual information is processed within the brain through two main parallel pathways. The 'what pathway' is tasked with object recognition and identification. In contrast, the 'where/how pathway' is concerned with an object's location in space and how to interact with it.

"What" vs. "Where/How" Pathways of Vision

Spielman, R. M., Jenkins, W. J., & Lovett, M. D. (2020, April 22). Psychology (2nd ed.). OpenStax. https://openstax.org/books/psychology-2e/pages/1-introduction

OpenStax Psychology (2nd ed.) Textbook

The 'what pathway,' also known as the perception pathway, is primarily responsible for object recognition and identification. Anatomically, it processes information along a route from the visual cortex to the temporal lobe.

The what pathway (perception pathway)

The 'where/how pathway,' also referred to as the action pathway, is involved in determining an object's location in space and how one might interact with it. This processing stream runs from the visual cortex to the parietal lobe.

The Where/How Pathway (Action Pathway)

Based on the following case study, identify which of the two primary visual processing streams ('what' vs. 'where/how') is most likely impaired. Justify your answer by linking the patient's symptoms to the specific function of that pathway.

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