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Updated: Oct 12, 2025

Author Spotlight: Unveiling Neural Coding and Mechanisms of Visual Processing in the Superior Colliculus
Published on: April 21, 2023
Orienting our view of the superior colliculus: specializations and general functions
Kathryne M Allen1, Jennifer Lawlor1, Angeles Salles1
1Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, 21218, USA.
Abstract:
The mammalian superior colliculus (SC) and its non-mammalian homolog, the optic tectum are implicated in sensorimotor transformations. Historically, emphasis on visuomotor functions of the SC has led to a popular view that it operates as an oculomotor structure rather than a more general orienting structure. In this review, we consider comparative work on the SC/optic tectum, with a particular focus on non-visual sensing and orienting, which reveals a broader perspective on SC functions and their role in species-specific behaviors. We highlight several recent studies that consider ethological context and natural behaviors to advance knowledge of the SC as a site of multi-sensory integration and motor initiation in diverse species.
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