Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Interface of Visual Input and Oculomotor Command for Directing the Gaze on Target

  • Chapter
Spatially Oriented Behavior

Abstract

Looking at a target seems to be a trivial task for the nervous system. It is performed almost automatically every second of active life. However, when one tries to explain in terms of pathways and nerve impulses how the gaze can be brought on target, a major difficulty becomes immediately apparent: How is the target selected? It is not a priori obvious in those circumstances in which looking serves to explore, to search, to anticipate something that may not yet be there. The whole scene has to be analyzed, patterns must be isolated and identified, and their significance assessed as a function of various contingencies. This involves a number of processes that are beyond the scope of neurophysiological studies today.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 39.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 54.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  • Benevento, L. A., Rezak, M., & Santos-Anderson, R. An autoradiographic study of the projections of the pretectum in the rhesus monkey (Macaca mulatta): Evidence for sensorimotor links to the thalamus and oculomotor nuclei. Brain Research, 1977,127, 197–218.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bizzi, E., Polit, A., & Morasso, P. Mechanisms underlying achievement of final head position. Journal of Neurophysiology, 1976, 39, 435–444.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Edwards, S. B. The deep cell layers of the superior colliculus: Their reticular characteristics and structural organization. In A. Hobson & M. Brazier (Eds.), The reticular formation revisited: Specifying functions for a nonspecific system. New York: Raven Press, 1980, pp. 193–209.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ferrier, D. The localization of function in the brain. Proceedings of the Royal Society of London; B., 1874, 22, 229–232.

    Google Scholar 

  • Galletti, C., Squatrito, S., & Battaglini, P. P. Visual cortex projections to thalamic intralaminar nuclei in the cat. An autoradiographic study. Archives Italiennes de Biologie, 1979,117, 280–285.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Gresty, M., & Baker, R. Neurons with visual receptive field, eye movement and neck displacement sensitivity within and around the nucleus prepositus hypo-glossi in the alert cat. Experimental Brain Research, 1976,24, 429–433.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Harting, J. K., Huerta, M. F., Frankfurter, A. J., Strominger, N. L., & Royce, G. J. Ascending pathways from the monkey superior colliculus: An autoradiographic analysis. Journal of Comparative Neurology, 1980,192, 853–882.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hassler, R. Brain mechanisms of intention and attention with introductory remarks on other volitional processes. In Motivation, motor and sensory processes of the brain. Progress in Brain Research, 1980,54, 585–614.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kasdon, D. L., & Jacobson, S. The thalamic afferents to the inferior parietal lobule of the rhesus monkey. Journal of Comparative Neurology, 1978,177, 685–706.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kennard, M. A., & Ectors, L. Forced circling in monkeys following lesions of the frontal lobes. Journal of Neurophysiology, 1938,1, 45–54.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kievit, J., & Kuypers, H. G. J. M. Organization of the thalamo-cortical connexions of the frontal lobe in the rhesus monkey. Experimental Brain Research, 1977, 29, 299–322.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kotchabhakdi, N., Rinvik, E., Walberg, F., & Yingchareon, K. The vestibulothalamic projections in the cat studied by retrograde axonal transport of horseradish peroxidase. Experimental Brain Research, 1980,40, 405–418.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kotchabhakdi, N., Rinvik, E., Yingchareon, K., & Walberg, F. Afferent projections to the thalamus from the perihypoglossal nuclei. Brain Research, 1980, 187, 457–461.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kubota, K., Iwamoto, T., & Suzuki, H. Visuokinetic activities of primate prefrontal neurons during delayed-response performance. Journal of Neurophysiology, 1974, 37, 1197–1212.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Leichnetz, G. R. An anterogradely-labeled prefrontal cortico-oculomotor pathway in the monkey demonstrated with HRP gel and TMB neurohistochemistry. Brain Research, 1980,198, 440–445.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Luschei, E. S., & Fuchs, A. F. Activity of brain stem neurons during eye movements of alert monkeys. Journal of Neurophysiology, 1972, 35, 445–461.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lynch, J. C., Mountcastle, V. B„, Talbot, W. H., & Yin, T. C. Parietal lobe mechanisms for direct attention. Journal of Neurophysiology, 1977, 40, 362–389.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Magnin, M., & Kennedy, H. Anatomical evidence of a third ascending vestibular pathway involving the ventral lateral geniculate nucleus and the intralaminar nuclei of the cat. Brain Research, 1979,171, 523–529.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Maldonado, H., Joseph, J. -P., & Schlag, J. Types of eye movements evoked by thalamic microstimulation in the alert cat. Experimental Neurology, 1980, 70, 613–625.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Maldonado, H., & Schlag, J. Thalamic neurons related to head and eye movements. Neuroscience Abstracts, 1980,6, 476.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mays, L. E., & Sparks, D. L. Dissociation of visual and saccade-related responses in superior colliculus neurons. Journal of Neurophysiology, 1980, 43, 207–232.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Mays, L. E., & Sparks, D. L. Saccades are spatially, not retinocentrieally, coded. Science, 1980, 208, 1163–1165. (b)

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Mohler, C. W., & Wurtz, R. H. Organization of monkey superior colliculus: Intermediate layer cells discharging before eye movements. Journal of Neurophysiology, 1976, 39, 722–744.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Orem, J., Schlag-Rey, M., & Schlag, J. Unilateral visual neglect and thalamic intralaminar lesions in the cat.Experimental Neurology, 1973, 40, 784–797.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Robinson, D. A. Oculomotor control signals. In G. Lennerstrand & P. Bach-y-Rita (Eds.), Basic mechanisms of ocular motility and their clinical implications. Oxford: Pergamon Press, 1975, pp. 337–374.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sakata, H., Shibutani, H., & Kawano, K. Spatial properties of visual fixation neurons in posterior parietal association cortex of the monkey. Journal of Neurophysiology, 1980,43, 1654–1672.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Schiller, P. H., & Koerner, F. Discharge characteristics of single units in superior colliculus of the alert rhesus monkey. Journal of Neurophysiology, 1971, 34, 920–936.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Schiller, P. H., True, S. D., & Conway, J. L. Deficits in eye movements following frontal eye-field and superior colliculus ablations. Journal of Neurophysiology, 1980,44, 1175–1189.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Schlag, J., Lehtinen, I., & Schlag-Rey, M. Neuronal activity before and during eye movements in the thalamic internal medullary lamina of the cat. Journal of Neurophysiology, 1974, 37, 982–995.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Schlag, J., & Schlag-Rey, M. Induction of oculomotor responses from thalamic internal medullary lamina in the cat. Experimental Neurology, 1971, 33, 498–508.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Schlag, J., & Schlag-Rey, M. Visuomotor properties of cells in the cat thalamic internal medullary lamina. In R. Baker & A. Berthoz (Eds.), Control of gaze by brain stem neurons. Amsterdam: Elsevier/North-Holland, 1977, pp. 453–462.

    Google Scholar 

  • Schlag, J., Schlag-Rey, M., Peck, C. K., & Joseph, J. -P. Visual responses of thalamic neurons depending on the direction of gaze and the position of targets in space. Experimental Brain Research, 1980,40, 170–184.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Schlag-Rey, M., & Schlag, J. Visual and presaccadic neuronal activity in the thalamic internal medullary lamina of cat: A study of targeting. Journal of Neurophysiology, 1911,40, 156–173.

    Google Scholar 

  • Schlag-Rey, M., & Schlag, J. Eye movement-related neuronal activity in the central thalamus of monkeys. In A. Fuchs & W. Becker (Eds.), Progress in oculomotor research. New York: Elsevier/North-Holland, 1981.

    Google Scholar 

  • Schott, B., & Jeannerod, M. L’agnosie spatiale unilatérale: Pertubation en secteur des mécanismes d’exploration et de fixation du regard. Journal de Médecine de Lyon, 1966,47, 169–195.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sparks, D. L., & Mays, L. E. Movement field of saccade-related burst neurons in the monkey superior colliculus. Brain Research, 1980,190, 39–50.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Stein, B. E., & Dixon, J. P. Properties of superior colliculus neurons in the golden hamster. Journal of Comparative Neurology, 1919,183, 269–284.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Watson, R. T. Thalamic neglect. Neurology, 1978, 28, 396.

    Google Scholar 

  • Watson, R. T., Miller, B. D., & Heilman, K. M. Nonsensory neglect. Annals of Neurology, 1978, 3, 505–508.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wiersma, C. A. G. Integration in the visual pathway of crustacea. In C. A. G. Wiersma (Ed.), Nervous and hormonal mechanisms of integration. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1966, pp. 151–177.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Authors
  1. John Schlag
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Madeleine Schlag-Rey
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 02139, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA

    Alan Hein

  2. INSERM Unité 94, F-69500, Bron, France

    Marc Jeannerod

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 1983 Springer-Verlag New York Inc.

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Schlag, J., Schlag-Rey, M. (1983). Interface of Visual Input and Oculomotor Command for Directing the Gaze on Target. In: Hein, A., Jeannerod, M. (eds) Spatially Oriented Behavior. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4612-5488-1_5

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4612-5488-1_5

  • Publisher Name: Springer, New York, NY

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4612-5490-4

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4612-5488-1

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation