Evidence from human and primate studies suggests that fast visual processing may utilize signals projecting from primary visual cortex (V1) through the dorsal stream, to area V5/MT+ or beyond and subsequently back into V1. This coincides with the arrival of parvocellular signals en route to the ventral pathway and infero-temporal cortex. Such evidence suggests that the dorsal stream region V5/MT+ is activated rapidly through the traditional hierarchical pathway, and also via a less well established direct signal to V5/MT+ bypassing V1. To test this sixteen healthy humans underwent Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) of V1/V2 and V5/MT+ whilst performing a motion direction detection task. A three-alternate forced-choice design (left/right motion, stationary) allowed analysis of the quality of errors made, in addition to the more usual performance measures. Transient disruption of V1/V2 and V5/MT+ significantly reduced accuracy when TMS was applied at or near motion onset. Most participants also showed disrupted performance with TMS application over V1/V2 approximately 125ms post motion onset, and significantly reduced accuracy at 158ms with V5/MT+ stimulation. The two periods of disruption with V1/V2 TMS is suggestive of feedforward/feedback models, though the earlier period of disruption has not been reported in previous TMS studies. Very early activation of V5/MT+, evidenced by diminished accuracy and reduced perception of motion following TMS may be indicative of a thalamic-extrastriate pathway, in addition to the traditionally expected later period of processing. A profound disruption of performance pre-stimulus onset is more likely to reflect disruption of top-down expectancy than disruption of visual processing.