Color center
![A visual field map of the primary visual cortex and the numerous extrastriate areas.](/Images/godic/202501/05/Visual_field_maps3921.jpg")
![The lingual gyrus is the hypothetical location of V4 in macaque monkeys. In humans, this area is called hV4.](/Images/godic/202501/05/Lingual_gyrus_animation3921.gif")
![The fusiform gyrus is the hypothetical location of V4α, a secondary area for color processing.](/Images/godic/202501/05/Fusiform_gyrus_animation3922.gif")
![fMRI showing activity in the primary visual cortex V1.](/Images/godic/202501/05/FMRI3922.jpg")
The color center is a region in the brain primarily responsible for visual perception and cortical processing of color signals received by the eye, which ultimately results in color vision. The color center in humans is thought to be located in the ventral occipital lobe as part of the visual system, in addition to other areas responsible for recognizing and processing specific visual stimuli, such as faces, words, and objects. Many functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) studies in both humans and macaque monkeys have shown color stimuli to activate multiple areas in the brain, including the fusiform gyrus and the lingual gyrus. These areas, as well as others identified as having a role in color vision processing, are collectively labeled visual area 4 (V4). The exact mechanisms, location, and function of V4 are still being investigated.