Bilirubin-induced neurological dysfunction in the visual system.

Bilirubin-induced neurologic dysfunction (BIND) affects the visual system, which can be divided into striate cortex and extrastriate cortex. The striate cortex is the entry point for vision into the brain, and codes for lines and line orientation. From here, visual information moves into extrastriate cortex, where complex vision tasks are managed. In this report, we describe two of these tasks: face recognition and motion processing. We have demonstrated that the striate cortex is not affected by neonatal exposure to bilirubin, but higher-order functions are. We illustrate how these functions can be tested and the ramifications of bilirubin-induced extrastriate dysfunction.