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Author Spotlight: Unveiling Neural Coding and Mechanisms of Visual Processing in the Superior Colliculus
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Electrical stimulation in a spiking neural network model of monkey superior colliculus
A John van Opstal1, Bahadir Kasap2
1Department of Biophysics, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University Nijmegen, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
Progress in Brain Research
|July 22, 2019
Summary
Electrical stimulation of the superior colliculus (SC) evokes saccades. This research reconciles models of saccade generation, suggesting SC neuron activation influences saccade kinematics.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Oculomotor research
- Systems neuroscience
Background:
- The superior colliculus (SC) is crucial for generating saccadic eye movements via its motor map.
- Existing models debate whether the SC specifies saccade vectors or instantaneous kinematics.
Purpose of the Study:
- To reconcile conflicting models of saccade generation in the superior colliculus.
- To investigate the role of SC population activity in determining saccade kinematics.
Main Methods:
- Supra-threshold electrical stimulation of the superior colliculus (SC).
- Analysis of saccade kinematics evoked by stimulation.
- Comparison of electrically evoked saccades with natural saccades.
Main Results:
- Electrical stimulation in the SC reliably produces normometric saccades.
- Kinematics of electrically evoked saccades closely resemble natural, visually evoked saccades.
- Stimulation parameters had minimal effect on evoked saccade metrics.
Conclusions:
- Findings support a model where the SC determines the saccade vector via a center-of-gravity computation.
- Saccade trajectory and kinematics are influenced by brainstem-cerebellar feedback circuits.
- A proposed mechanism reconciles stimulation data with population coding by suggesting localized initial activation leading to widespread network effects.
Keywords:
Lateral synaptic interactionsLinear summationMotor mapPopulation codingSaccadesSpatial-temporal transformationVector averagingMore Related Videos
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