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Modulation of neuronal activity by target uncertainty

M A Basso¹, R H Wurtz

¹Laboratory of Sensorimotor Research, National Eye Institute, Bethesda, Maryland 20892-4435, USA. mab@lsr.nei.nih.gov

|September 4, 1997

Summary

Neural activity in the superior colliculus decreases with increased target uncertainty during eye movement selection. This suggests motor systems prepare for potential movements well before a final decision is made.

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Area of Science:

Neuroscience
Ophthalmology
Motor Control

Background:

Visual scenes contain multiple elements, but eye movements target one element at a time.
Increased scene complexity raises uncertainty about which element will be selected for an eye movement.
The neural mechanisms for accommodating target uncertainty in motor systems are not fully understood.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate how the brain's motor system handles target uncertainty during eye movement selection.
To determine if neural activity in the superior colliculus reflects target uncertainty.

Main Methods:

Recorded neural activity from superior colliculus neurons in response to varying numbers of visual stimuli.
Systematically manipulated the number of potential targets to alter target uncertainty.

Main Results:

Neural activity preceding eye movement selection decreased as target uncertainty increased.
This early neural activity in the superior colliculus was modulated by the probability of selecting a specific movement.

Conclusions:

Neurons in the superior colliculus, a key area for movement generation, show activity preceding movement selection.
This anticipatory activity is influenced by the level of uncertainty regarding the target selection, indicating a role in preparing for potential actions.

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