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Target selection and saccade generation in monkey superior colliculus.

Nicholas L Port1, Robert H Wurtz

  • 1Laboratory of Sensorimotor Research, National Eye Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MA, USA. nport@indiana.edu

Experimental Brain Research
|November 26, 2008
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

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Neurons in the superior colliculus (SC) show target selection intertwined with saccade generation. This neural activity is closely linked to reaction times, indicating a combined role in eye movement control.

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Oculomotor Systems
  • Cognitive Neuroscience

Background:

  • The superior colliculus (SC) is known to play a role in initiating saccades (rapid eye movements).
  • Previous research suggests the SC is also involved in selecting saccade targets.
  • The relationship between SC neuronal activity for target selection and saccade generation remains unclear.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate if superior colliculus (SC) neuronal activity related to target selection is also linked to saccade generation.
  • To determine the timing of target selection relative to saccade onset in the SC.

Main Methods:

  • Used an asynchronous target task where monkeys saccaded to the first of two appearing light spots.
  • Employed choice probability analysis to identify the earliest neuronal indication of target selection in SC intermediate layers.

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  • Utilized an asynchronous reaction time task to correlate neuronal selection timing with saccade onset.

    • Main Results:

    • SC neurons indicated target selection at varied times, from pre-saccadic bursts to early visual responses, and even pre-stimulus.
    • A priming effect from previous trials influenced pre-stimulus activity and subsequent target selection probability.
    • Most neurons (76%) demonstrated a correlation between target selection time and reaction time, with many showing early selection.

    Conclusions:

    • Target selection and saccade initiation in the superior colliculus are not sequential but rather intertwined and likely inseparable.
    • SC neuronal activity dynamically reflects both target selection and the imminent generation of a saccade.