Work

Motor Functions of the Superior Colliculus

Year: 2011

Type: review

Abstract: The mammalian superior colliculus (SC) and its nonmammalian homolog, the optic tectum, constitute a major node in processing sensory information, incorporating cognitive factors, and issuing motor commands. The resulting action-to orient toward or away from a stimulus-can be accomplished as an integrated movement across oculomotor, cephalomotor, and skeletomotor effectors. The SC also participates in preserving fixation during intersaccadic intervals. This review highlights the repertoire of movements attributed to SC function and analyzes the significance of results obtained from causality-based experiments (microstimulation and inactivation). The mechanisms potentially used to decode the population activity in the SC into an appropriate movement command are also discussed.

Source: Annual Review of Neuroscience

DOI: 10.1146/annurev-neuro-061010-113728

Authors: Neeraj J. Gandhi, Husam A. Katnani

Institutions: University of Pittsburgh, Center for the Neural Basis of Cognition

Language: English

Topic: Motor Control and Adaptation

Subfield: Cognitive Neuroscience

Field: Neuroscience

Domain: Life Sciences

Open Access status: green

Funders: National Eye Institute, National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, National Institute of General Medical Sciences

Awards: Predoctoral Training Program in Behavioral Brain Research, G1447718793, Neural Basis of Gaze Shifts, Core Grant for Vision Research