| Sumario: | Purpose: The aim of this paper is to review the literature on direct geniculo-extrastriate pathways with special attention to 3D extrastriate visual areas. Methods: A literature review was realized using PubMed and Google Scholar. 'Lateral geniculate nucleus', 'geniculo-extrastriate pathways' and 'white matter fiber tracts' were among the keywords used. Results: Existence of geniculo-extrastriate connections was first hypothesized by the clinical observations of Riddoch's syndrome in patients with striate cortex (primary visual area, V1) lesions. Robust histological proof of geniculo-extrastriate pathways exists in monkeys. In humans, these pathways were tested through functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), electro- and magneto-physiological paradigms. Conversely, only indirect proof of the connection between lateral geniculate nucleus and V5 exists. To our knowledge there were not any anatomical studies of geniculo-extrastriate connections in humans. Conclusion: Few human studies take interest in geniculo-extrastriate pathways. Only indirect proof of geniculo-extrastriate pathways exists in humans.
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