[The functional role of the retino-tecto-thalamo-cortical system in rats]

After bilateral lesion of the posterior lateral thalamic nucleus in rats, studies been made of motor-feeding reflexes to light stimuli. Using spatial preference technique, it was shown that lesion of this nucleus (representing a part of the retino-tecto-thalamo-cortical system) disturbs differentiation of spatially uncoupled visual stimuli. These data confirm the idea on telencephalization of ancient retino-tectal part of the visual system in evolution and indicate that this part is involved into the analysis of spatial relationships.