Title: FUNCTIONS OF THE CAT'S SUPERIOR COLLICULUS ISOLATED FROM THE LOWER BRAINSTEM AND THE FOREBRAIN
Abstract: This chapter discusses an experiment in which the functions of the cat's superior colliculus isolated from the lower brainstem and the forebrain was studied. In 60 cats, the midbrain was isolated from the pons and forebrain by two brainstem transections, pretrigeminal and preoptic, both inclined about 35° from the frontal plane. The preoptic transection passed along the rostral border of the optic tract, leaving it and the chiasm intact. Thus, a direct visual input into the isolated midbrain was maintained. Some of the main results on the function of the superior colliculus in the isolated midbrain were found to be as follows: (1) visual stimuli evoked vigorous responses in most cells, (2) the ocular fixation reflex was never observed in the isolated midbrain preparations, (3) the spontaneous electroencephalography activity in the superior colliculus was somewhat depressed in comparison with that of the pretrigeminal preparation. In cases with unilateral preoptic transection, a pronounced asymmetry between two sides was observed. From these results, it can be stated that the background activity in the midbrain is dominated by the input from the ipsilateral forebrain.
Publication Year: 1981
Publication Date: 1981-01-01
Language: en
Type: book-chapter
Indexed In: ['crossref']
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Cited By Count: 1
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