Visual-auditory interactions in cat superior colliculus: their role in the control of gaze

Superior colliculus cells that respond to a given sensory input (visual or auditory) were influenced by the presence of a stimulus in the other modality. This is a form of sensory-sensory integration which has previously been thought to be involved in initiating the orientation of receptor organs in response to such cues. The present results demonstrate directly that some neurons in cat superior colliculus exhibit premotor discharges which are facilitated when evoked by combinations of visual and auditory stimuli. Other neurons showed sensory interactions which were more difficult to relate directly to orienting behavior; these cells might have a role in mediating attentional functions.