Which lobe houses the primary visual cortex?

• A. Occipital lobe
• B. Frontal lobe
• C. Temporal lobe
• D. Parietal lobe

Answer: (A)

The main idea is that basic visual processing happens in the occipital lobe, at the back of the brain, where the primary visual cortex (V1) resides. Visual signals travel from the retina through the thalamus (lateral geniculate nucleus) to V1, making this region the first cortical station for vision and responsible for initial analysis of features like edges and light-dark contrasts. The frontal lobe handles things like planning and movement, the temporal lobe processes hearing and object recognition, and the parietal lobe handles touch and spatial relationships. Because the primary visual cortex is located in the occipital lobe, this is the correct answer.