The superior colliculus ('colliculus'), or optic tectum, is a highly conserved area of the brain that is critical for the organization and control of attention and orienting behaviors. It lies at the top of the midbrain and our understanding of its structure and function is based on work from many vertebrate species including: lampreys, fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds, rodents and primates. In each of these species, its well defined set of visual inputs and strong links to motor functions have provided much insight into how the circuits of the brain link sensory inputs with behavior to help animals interact with the world. Although often thought of as a primitive structure guiding reflexive and instinctive behaviors, the colliculus is well connected with the rest of the brain and plays an important role in a diverse set of important behavioral and cognitive functions.
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The superior colliculus.
Curr Biol
March 2025
NERF - VIB, Leuven 3000, Belgium; Department of Biology and Leuven Brain Institute, KU Leuven, Leuven 3000, Belgium. Electronic address:
The superior colliculus ('colliculus'), or optic tectum, is a highly conserved area of the brain that is critical for the organization and control of attention and orienting behaviors. It lies at the top of the midbrain and our understanding of its structure and function is based on work from many vertebrate species including: lampreys, fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds, rodents and primates. In each of these species, its well defined set of visual inputs and strong links to motor functions have provided much insight into how the circuits of the brain link sensory inputs with behavior to help animals interact with the world.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBehavioral modulation and molecular definition of wide-field vertical cells in the mouse superior colliculus.
J Neurosci
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Molecular and Integrative Physiology Department, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, 48109, MI, USA
Visual information can have different meanings across species and the same visual stimulus can drive appetitive or aversive behavior. The superior colliculus (SC), a visual center located in the midbrain has been involved in driving such behaviors. Within this structure, the wide-field vertical cell (WFV) is a conserved morphological cell-type that is present in species ranging from reptiles to cats (Basso et al.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFMotion integration: A case of misdirection.
Curr Biol
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Department of Neurobiology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27701, USA. Electronic address:
Integrating complex motion signals from the environment is essential for behavior. A recent study in the mouse has revealed that both encoding in the superior colliculus and the optokinetic reflex follow a novel motion integration rule.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFNeural mechanism of trigeminal nerve stimulation recovering defensive arousal responses in traumatic brain injury.
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School of Basic Medical Sciences, Guangzhou National Laboratory, The Fifth Affiliated Hospital, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou 510005, China.
The arousal state is defined as the degree to which an individual is aware of themselves and their surroundings, and is a crucial component of consciousness. Trigeminal nerve stimulation (TNS), a non-invasive clinical neuromodulation technique, has shown potential in aiding the functional recovery of patients with impaired consciousness. Understanding the specific neuronal subpopulations and circuits through which TNS improves arousal states is essential for advancing its clinical application.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBinocular processing facilitates escape behavior through multiple pathways to the superior colliculus.
Curr Biol
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Eccles Institute of Neuroscience, John Curtin School of Medical Research, Australian National University, 131 Garran Rd, Acton, ACT 2601, Australia; Department of Physiology, Monash University, Wellington Rd, Clayton, VIC 3800, Australia. Electronic address:
The superior colliculus (SC) is the main brain region regulating defensive behaviors to visual threats. Yet, how the SC integrates binocular visual information and to what extent binocular vision drives defensive behaviors remains unknown. Here, we show that SC neurons respond to binocular visual input with diverse synaptic and spiking responses, summating visual inputs largely sublinearly.
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