Correlation between pulvinar-lateralis posterior complex unit activity and eye movements in the cat

In 15 encéphale isolé cats, 130 units were recorded in the pulvinar-lateralis posterior complex (P-LP); 19 units responded in relation to horizontal eye movements (15%), 9 of which discharged when ipsiversive movements were recorded and the remaining 10 to contraversive movements. Three units discharged during spontaneous nystagnoid eye movement. All units always responded after initiation of the eye movement, with a latency range between 50 and 250 ms. The eye movement-related units were preferentially located (80%) in the border between the pulvinar and the lateralis posterior complex. Our results show the presence of eye movement-related units in the cat's P-LP, and their probable participation in ocular motility.