Abstract
IT is well known that in the mammal the retina is related in a well-organized manner with the lateral geniculate nucleus of the thalamus and with the visual cortex1, on one hand, and with the superior colliculus2 of the midbrain, on the other. In addition, a projection from the visual and other cortical areas to the tectum has been demonstrated3. Apart from a recent investigation in the rat4 there is no evidence, however, to indicate whether the projection of the cortex on the tectum is topically organized and in particular whether the parts of the cortex and tectum related to a specific part of the retina are interconnected. This problem of the interrelationships of the visual cortex and the superior colliculus has been investigated in the cat in three stages by determining, first, the detailed projection of the retina on the lateral geniculate nucleus and the superior colliculus; secondly, the organization of the projection of the lateral geniculate nucleus on the visual cortex (and thereby the representation of the retina in the cortex); and finally, the manner of termination of the cortical efferent fibres to the superior colliculus.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Polyak, S., The Vertebrate Visual System, edit. by Klüver, H. (Univ. Chicago Press, 1957).
Apter, J. T., J. Neurophysiol., 8, 123 (1945).
Sprague, J. M., Anat. Rec., 145, 288 (1963).
Lund, R. D., Nature, 204, 1283 (1964).
Nauta, W. J. H., and Gygax, P. A., Stain Tech., 29, 91 (1954).
Hayhow, W. R., J. Comp. Neurol., 110, 1 (1958); 113, 281 (1959). Laties, A., and Sprague, J. M., Anat. Rec., 151, 377 (1965).
Overbosch, J. F. A., thesis, Amsterdam; Paris (1927). Bishop, P. O., Kozak, W., Levick, W. R., and Vakkur, G. J., J. Physiol., 163, 503 (1962).
Seneviratne, K. N., and Whitteridge, D., Electroenceph. Clin. Neurophysiol., 14, 785 (1962). Bishop, P. O. (personal communication).
Otsuka, R., and Hassler, R., Arch. Psychiat. Z. Ges. Neurol., 203, 212 (1962).
Minkowski, M., Arb. Hirnanat. Inst. Zürich, 7, 255 (1913). Waller, W. H., and Barris, R. W., J. Comp. Neurol., 67, 317 (1937).
Hubel, D. H., and Wiesel, T. N., J. Neurophysiol., 28, 229 (1965).
Altman, J., J. Comp. Neurol., 119, 77 (1962). Beresford, W. A., in Neurophysiologie und Psychophysik des visuellen Systems, edit. by Jung, R., and Kornhüber, H., 247 (Springer, Berlin, 1961).
Beresford, W. A., J. Hirnforsch., 5, 210 (1962).
Barris, R. W., J. Comp. Neurol., 63, 353 (1936).
Talbot, S. A., and Marshall, W. H., Amer. J. Ophthal., 24, 1255 (1941).
Brooke, R. N. L., Downer, J. de C., and Powell, T. P. S., Nature (p. 1365 of this issue).
McGill, J. I., Nature, 204, 395 (1964).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
GAREY, L. Interrelationships of the Visual Cortex and Superior Colliculus in the Cat. Nature 207, 1410–1411 (1965). https://doi.org/10.1038/2071410a0
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/2071410a0
- Springer Nature Limited
This article is cited by
-
Axon topography of layer 6 spiny cells to orientation map in the primary visual cortex of the cat (area 18)
Brain Structure and Function (2017)
-
Unit responses and interactions at superior colliculus first stage of input reception
Experientia (1972)
-
The anatomical organization of the visual system of the rabbit
Documenta Ophthalmologica (1971)
-
Pattern of Cortical and Thalamic Connexions of the Somatic Sensory Cortex
Nature (1967)