Physiology of visual cells in mouse superior colliculus and correlation with somatosensory and auditory input

THE two main targets of the mammalian optic nerve fibres are the lateral geniculate body and the superior colliculus (optic tectum). From studies with various techniques, and in several mammalian species including the cat1–5, monkey6–9, rabbit10–12, rat13, and ground squirrel14 three major functions of the superior colliculus have been described. In the superficial layers the visual input is processed in a specific way; in deep layers several sense modalities, chiefly visual, auditory and somatosensory, are brought together; stimulation of the tectum results in an orienting of the animal's eyes, head or body towards a location corresponding topographically to the part of the tectum stimulated.

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