The first visual area, also known as V1 or the primary visual cortex, is critical for processing and interpreting visual information. However, there are several other terms that can be used as synonyms for this area. These include striate cortex, because the cortex has a striped pattern due to the arrangement of neurons; Brodmann area 17, which is a specific location in the brain identified by German neurologist Korbinian Brodmann; and Area 17, a term often used in research studies. Other terms include the calcarine cortex, named after the calcarine sulcus that runs through V1, and the occipital cortex, which is the area of the brain responsible for processing visual information.