Magnocellular Pathway

The magnocellular pathway is the part of the visual system specialized in transmitting coarse- grain information and information about movement. The magnocellular pathway begins with the parasol, magnocellular ganglion cells in the non-foveal region of the retina and ends within the magnocellular layer of the lateral geniculate nucleus (LGN), which is the primary processing center for visual information received from the retina of the eye. Has a high contrast grain than Parvocellular Pathway.

The magnocellular pathway of the visual system sends more information to the right hemisphere thant to the left hemisphere. It is fast-conducting and is also responsible for our perception of stimulus change, which includes motion, and is largely color-blind. A review of the neurophysiological literature suggests that the magnocellular pathway has adequate spatial-frequency and contrast sensitivity to perceive text under normal contrast conditions.